David Ramsay

Again, it’s very important that we keep the stories alive and we keep the culture alive, and that’s only going to be done if we preserve that and get it done one way or another. I know there are maybe opportunities through the school curriculum, maybe, to have that story told over and over again and become, eventually, part of a school curriculum.

Again, I made a commitment to speak to the Minister of ECE. I will do that and get back to the Member.

Thank you. I think what the Member is getting at could be incorporated, and will be incorporated, in our Aboriginal Tourism Strategy. I mentioned this yesterday in the House. It is something that a lot of other jurisdictions across the country are watching as it unfolds.

We want to increase awareness and support for Aboriginal tourism amongst Aboriginal communities. We want to improve skills for Aboriginal businesses involved in the Aboriginal tourism industry. What the Member is talking about fits perfectly into this type of strategy because when people come here to visit the Northwest...

We are going to have a made-in-the-North solution to this as we move forward. Again, it’s important that we put our best effort into getting a situation here where it’s going to see us have as seamless a transition as possible. We are continuing to work with the National Energy Board. Come April 1st we’re going to inherit the regulations and policies of the National Energy Board. We’re going to inherit the federal acts that regulate the industry here in the Northwest Territories. After April 1st, if it’s deemed necessary, we can amend some of that legislation, we can enact policies. The world...

Our goal and objective is to grow the capacity to regulate the oil and gas industry here in the Northwest Territories by residents of the Northwest Territories. We do not have the capacity. That’s why we’re reaching out to both the National Energy Board and the Alberta Energy Regulator and we’re also looking at the possibility of some work with the BC Oil and Gas Commission as well. We need to bring that expertise to bear come April 1st and we are setting the wheels in motion to allow us to do that.

I take some issue with the Member’s concerns about the regulator in Alberta. They do have 75...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to take a second to recognize a few folks in the gallery today. Superintendent of YCS Ms. Claudia Parker and also assistant superintendent, Mr. John Bowden, a former teacher of mine at St. Patrick’s, welcome to the House today. I also wanted to recognize and wish good luck to Jamie Koe, Team NWT at the Brier that’s coming up at Kamloops. Good luck to Team NWT. I also wanted to wish good luck to Damon Crossman. I know he does a lot of great work at MACA with sport and rec. I know the team is on the way to Fairbanks in a few weeks. Good luck to Team NWT in...

Historically we’ve seen a range anywhere between $100,000 and $300,000. Once the factories are up and running, we could anticipate a number somewhere in that range, Madam Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We appreciate the Member’s comments. As far as evaluations go on the Tourism Diversification Program, we can try to get him some evaluation on the success of that funding and I appreciate his comments on the Sport Hunt Outfitter Marketing Support Program that we have. As well, the extra funds for the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre. I know they do a great job here in the capital, supporting the tourism industry. Thank you.

Before the end of the fiscal year, I could say with some certainty.

Thank you. On April 1st of 2012 we signed a new 20-year agreement with the RCMP for services here in the Northwest Territories. We also are working closely with our counterparts in Nunavut and the Yukon on First Nations Policing. It’s a federal program. We’re hoping to have some success by working in a pan-territorial approach to try to get some funding for First Nations policing. We’re hoping for the best with that as well.

Madam Chair, of that amount of $19.3 million, approximately $11.6 million will be covered off from devolution funding. Thank you.