David Ramsay

Again, through the Economic Opportunities Strategy that we just launched, it was identified that ITI should develop a pilot project to assess the merits of a northern expenditure-based rebate program. This is something we are going to look at. Options for funding the program are currently under consideration. It’s something, I think, that has the potential to be very successful if we, again, do it right.

As far as SEED goes, that is something pertaining to the film industry that I can take back to the department if there is need, and I believe there is need to get more money out there to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Work does continue in that area. We have an application into CanNor, seeking some funding to allow us to continue to look at the best possible way to rebate or provide grants. Tax incentives obviously aren’t going to work here, are deemed not to be the best option. So we need to look at other options to attract more of the film industry and filming to take place here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve been Justice Minister now for just over a week and I have yet to be fully briefed by the RCMP on the situation of detachments around the Northwest Territories. But with the community of Tsiigehtchic, I know that the RCMP is working with the community on the idea of getting accommodations in the community for RCMP members that are travelling in from Fort McPherson, which could have RCMP members staying in the community for up to eight days a month, which certainly improves the situation currently.

We’re also looking at RCMP community officers in Tsiigehtchic, as well...

Thank you. Like I mentioned, it’s an area that we don’t cover off currently. It was highlighted in the Economic Opportunities Strategy as well. Again, by working with Justice, Health and Social Services and ITI, and also perhaps ENR, we can look at a way to address that segment of the population the Member speaks of and get some programming for those individuals as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have the highly successful Take a Kid Trapping Program that is provided through the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. We also involve the departments of ENR and MACA in that work. It is aimed at school-age children in getting them out on the land with trained trappers in the smaller communities. Thank you.

WHEREAS Subsection 15(1) of the Official Languages Act permits the appointment of a Languages Commissioner by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, after the approval of the appointment by resolution of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly considers the appointment of a Languages Commissioner essential for ensuring recognition of the rights, status and privileges of each of the official languages and compliance with the spirit and intent of the Official Languages Act;

AND WHEREAS the term of the Languages Commissioner has expired;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative...

That’s a very novel idea that the Member has and I believe it probably has some merit. It’s something I’ll take back to the department for consideration. We work very closely with NWT Tourism and continue to do so. We also work very closely with my colleague, Minister Lafferty at ECE. If there’s a way to do this, we want to, again, make sure we’re doing the right things. Again, the Member has a good idea and it’s something we’ll take into consideration.

Thank you. Work continues, again, in this area. It’s something we feel very strongly about. Obviously, it was highlighted, as well, in the Economic Opportunities Strategy. Last year we provided $114,000 to 12 recipients to help with film projects here in the NWT through our SEED program.

As we move forward, it is very important that we ensure that we get this right. We can’t just automatically create a program. We need to find where we fit in the scheme of things in providing rebates or incentives to get filming taking place here in the Northwest Territories. We’ve had some great success. We...

Thank you. As I highlighted in my previous response, that is something that the Department of Justice and the RCMP are currently working on to help address the needs in Tsiigehtchic. Thank you.

Thank you. Time will be very tight and I don’t want to get expectations up, but certainly I will discuss this idea, this option with folks at ITI and at Justice. I know the Ministers are listening, as well, to the Member’s concerns. Whether or not we can actually get something up and running for the business plans that are coming up, that remains to be seen. I don’t want to make any promises I can’t keep, but I’ll certainly take the idea and try to do something with it. Thank you.