David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I really appreciate the Member’s support for the Drive Alive program and other initiatives by the Department of Transportation. We had an excellent safety record in the past 15 months. We look to continue that.

The department views safety as the number one priority. To the Member’s questions, the public awareness campaign distributes safety information through the Internet, through newspapers, radio, television, printed material, audiovisual resources and community activities across the Northwest Territories and will continue to do those types of initiatives so that the...

I don’t have that exact figure but I would be more than happy to get that for the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently, the total credit facility portfolio for the BDIC is just under $50 million at $49.6 million. Approximately $7.6 million approved in credit facilities and $257,000 approved in contributions for this past fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, that is something that we could look at doing. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, DOT coordinates the awareness campaign related to drowning prevention, helmet use and child occupant restraints to support injury prevention. That is our component of the Healthy Choices framework, so we continue to work with communities on establishing those resources. If there are community organizations that want to take part in this and help us spread the message of safety first, we would be more than happy to discuss their participation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That certainly would be a possibility, and I believe as the Minister responsible for economic development here in the Northwest Territories, it’s important that we’re not duplicating our efforts, that it’s seamless, that we’re getting capital into the hands of those folks who can do something with it, that can grow our economy, especially out in the regions where we are seeing high unemployment and we need those types of investments in the regions that will grow the economy here in the Northwest Territories. I certainly look forward to the discussions as the terms of reference are established...

The timing of the Member’s questions is good. We’re currently putting together a terms of reference for review of the BDIC and the programs that are there. The hope is that those terms of reference will be established sometime this summer so that the review – and it’s being conducted by the program review office of the GNWT – will be underway this fall. I certainly look forward to working with the Regular Members as that program review plays itself out. Certainly, the limit on lending at $2 million is something that will be in the mix.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Northwest Territories parks and campgrounds attract thousands of visitors to our territory every summer. They are a vital element of our tourism sector, and one we continue to invest in heavily by ensuring they are maintained, improved and made more accessible to visitors. These facilities are also enjoyed by our own residents and contribute enormously to the quality of life that we enjoy here in Canada’s North.

The 2012 parks season formally opened on May 15th and two new initiatives from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment are making it easier than ever...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government is still very optimistic that the Mackenzie Gas Project will be constructed at some point in time. I have recently met with proponents of the gas project who share that optimism. At some point in time that gas project will see the light of day.

We continue to be optimistic that that will happen, but we also have to be cognizant of other opportunities that are presenting themselves in the territory. Of course, the resource play that is currently underway in the Sahtu is very important and very exciting and has the potential to turn the central Mackenzie...

I wasn’t aware that we were reducing the budgets in tourism. Over the past five years we’ve also come up with $5.6 million in the Tourism Product Diversification funding. Again, this year, in this budget there is $10.4 million earmarked for tourism.

Again, maybe the Member could just clarify where he believes the reductions are coming, because I haven’t seen any reductions and I don’t believe we’re reducing in any area in regard to tourism. Thank you.