Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Next on my list is Mr. Krutko.

Thank you and thanks to the Minister for that. I remember the discussions about the Tlicho and I’m happy to see that they’re back at the table and that progress is being made in that area. I think those realignments will ultimately help reduce the cost of living in those communities, which is a priority of this government. So thank you for that and please keep going.

The second part of the question, which I didn’t hear a response to, was winter road realignment up to the North Slave Geological Province. In 2006 we lost the winter roads early, which resulted in significant costs to the mines...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Two questions. I think the Minister has already answered one. In his opening comments he talked about an increase in SEED of $350,000 and he mentioned that $150,000 of it, I think, was for arts and crafts. I asked a question about arts, wondering if that was available to performing arts. In your response to us you said, no, it’s for artisans not performers. But then later you said that we do have musicians and other performing artists accessing SEED. The program is available to performing artists who meet the criteria, they can still access SEED, it doesn’t actually...

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Next on my list is Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Some of this is going to sound the same. Like I said before, Transportation plays a key role in our economic future. Transportation and opening up our communities is super important to our ability to have a strong economy; strong, healthy people. Highways are obviously a critical aspect just like our airports. One area that I mentioned in my opening comments or opening comments on your general remarks on your opening comments was the Deh Cho loop. I have driven it. It was a wonderful drive. Fortunately, I think I was driving at the one time of year that the Liard...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple of quick questions on this section. When Education, Culture and Employment was in front of us I asked some questions about some of the things you’re doing. One of the things you’re doing is supporting arts and culture, obviously through things like the NWT Arts Society and whatnot, and I’m about to say something I know the Minister has heard from me before, but when it comes to tourism supporting the arts is a great advantage. I mean, people are looking for reasons to come to the North, people are looking for activities and, yes, we have aurora and, yes, we...

Mr. Chairman, some of this might sound similar to a conversation I had with DOT earlier today. Ongoing improvements to our North Slave transportation system are critical to supporting the mine sector and the Slave Geological Province and economic development projects across the Northwest Territories and western Nunavut. What is ITI doing with industry and DOT and Aboriginal groups to improve winter road access to Tlicho communities in the Slave Geological Province? I know it is ultimately a DOT responsibility, but given the economic opportunities of these road realignments with Aboriginal...

Thank you for that. I hope that the department keeps moving forward on that. Just for the record, we talked about tourism. I am interested in tourism. You mentioned tourism, but tourism is not the only area that would benefit from an extended runway. Exploration in the Northwest Territories, mining in the Northwest Territories could all benefit from a more or longer and more substantial runway. This is more of just a comment, but I think work does need to be done in this area.

In light of the fact that we just signed an agreement-in-principle, we are moving forward with devolution. Our future...

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. I have nobody else on my list for 12-22, Industry, Tourism and Investment, activity summary, energy, grants and contributions, contributions, $5.500 million.

Does committee agree that we go back to general comments?