David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The budget for the project is about $17 million. As for the budget for that year, I’d have to get that information for the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are going to continue to move forward with the dialogue with industry and community leaders in the Sahtu as we look for ways to enhance the winter road in the region until we get an all-weather road. We will have to continue to work together to build those relationships.

As to the Oscar Creek Bridge, we are hopeful that at some point in time we are going to be able to access federal infrastructure dollars, at which time we will be at a much better position to address issues like the Oscar Creek Bridge and other requirements on that winter road system in the central...

We will get that information for the Member today. Thank you.

As far as the section from the border to Liard goes, I know there are nine sections that calcium will be applied. I can get that information for the Member from the distance from the border, the 32 kilometres to Liard.

But the application of calcium chloride will be done near bridge crossings and other areas where it’s possible to pass. So, from a safety perspective, that’s where the application will be applied.

If there is more truck traffic coming out of BC to Fort Liard, this again is something we’re going to have to take a look at, and if more calcium is needed to be applied to that section...

That would be difficult in that we have contractors operating some of our parks around the Northwest Territories who would be looking for a certain revenue stream in the operation of those parks. So for this coming season I wouldn’t be able to commit to that, but as I mentioned to the Member, for next season we could work with contractors that aren’t offering discounts to senior citizens and see if we can come up with a plan to offer discounts to senior citizens in our campgrounds. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, services available would be dependent on which park or campground the tourist would find themselves in. We are constantly looking at upgrading services and facilities in our campgrounds and parks around the Northwest Territories, but as Members know, it is always a challenge to find capital dollars to be putting into campgrounds.

We are fortunate enough to receive $2 million to upgrade facilities around the territory this year. We are looking forward to upgrading some facilities. Some would have shower buildings, kitchen shelters, and electrical hook-ups for RVs, depending on which...

Mr. Chair, I didn’t want the Member to get the impression that the services were going unrendered. They are being delivered to the public, to the business community. That is being done from the staff here at ITI in Yellowknife until a manager is hired for the Hay River office and that our staff are hired for the Hay River office, but I will make a commitment to keep Members apprised of those positions.

As I mentioned, I fully intend to staff all four positions in Hay River and continue to move that effort forward, but we are servicing the public’s needs through a manager here at ITI.

As Members...

I give the Member and other Members the assurance that the Economic Opportunities Strategy is built on solid relationships and establishing those relationships and ensuring that the Northwest Territories economy is going to be one that is diversified.

We will have big projects and opportunities like we do in the Sahtu and perhaps on the offshore, but we can’t lose sight of the smaller things, the things that are more important, and that is small business, tourism, agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Those I think will be key as we move the Economic Opportunities Strategy forward because those...

We are working very hard on an Economic Opportunities Strategy. We have been working toward that. We have to establish an action plan by this fall. I hear the Member. We have to tackle the high unemployment rates in some of our smaller communities. The communities in the Member’s riding are of particular concern.

We have lots of opportunity here if you look at forestry, tourism, agriculture, and we’ve also got, as the Member mentioned, Canadian Zinc mine. We’ve got the recent significant discovery by Lone Pine near Fort Liard.

So there are opportunities there, and we have to work in partnership...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 17-17(4), I wish to table the following document, entitled “Business Development and Investment Corporation Activities.”

I also wish to table the following document, entitled “Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 8-17(4), Secondary Diamond Industry.” Thank you.