Julie Green

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I spoke about the economic evaluation of the road to Whati and I have questions for the Minister of Transportation. Fortune Minerals wants this road built as a pre-condition of developing its mine. What kind of a commitment is the government getting from Fortune Minerals? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm pleased to hear the Minister say that because for example there are a number of pots of money that deal with heritage and with languages and with performers and maybe there's some scope to bring them all together. That's just a remark. Thank you, that's all for me.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thanks, colleagues. The direct stimulative nature of the Tlicho road investment is larger than that of the Nico construction project itself. That is because this contrasts with the Nico project, whose economic impact is most felt outside the NWT because the majority of its mining and milling equipment and all of its smelter and refinery capital expenditure will also occur outside of the NWT, specifically in Saskatchewan. I will have questions for the Minister of Transportation. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question really was whether there's any more work of this type coming along. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nothing further.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I have a question that concerns the northern arts programs. There is no funding indicated there this year. That has gone into arts organizations operating funds. Is that correct? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. How does this category then differ from computer hardware and software immediately below? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and I will be pursuing this topic again apparently. My final question has to do with who is going to obtain the employment to build the road. The economic evaluation says that the Tlicho Region will be the contractors for this road, a road that's being built with public money, and so to what extent is the government putting in place measures that will ensure that despite the fact that people in Whati have a high unemployment rate that they will be prepared to take advantage of the road building jobs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given that answer, Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Minister could tell us how the government will make a decision about whether to invest in the road to Whati? Thank you.