Katrina Nokleby

Thank you, Madam Chair, I do.

I am here today to present the 2020-2021 Main Estimates for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Overall, the department's estimates propose a decrease of $317,000 or 0.5 percent over the 2019-2020 Main Estimates. These estimates support our fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending while matching the modest expected revenue growth over the coming year.

Highlights of these proposed estimates include:

forced growth of $2.2 million, which includes $1.7 million in funding for UNW collective bargaining increases; $250,000 in...

Thank you, Madam Chair. One of the mandate items for us to look at is reducing red tape, so I think that would be an area where we could actually be helping our agriculture sector, if we could help them sort of navigate some of the processes. I know we've advocated for some things around meat licensing and such on their behalf. We have about $1 million in funding. We have a Canadian agricultural partnership that we do work with. Agriculture and commercial producers, we provide funding for some of their equipment. We have programs that support their shipping, and we do feel that there was a...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't have a time frame at this time, but I do commit to making that a timely response to the Member. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't know of any business, really, that can operate without some sort of form of insurance. As a very risk-adverse engineer, I am going to say that really scares me, to hear that we would then be entrusting people. I do acknowledge in the case in point, or the example, a walking tour, it does seem somewhat ridiculous. However, I don't anticipate that that case actually comes up very often and that most of our tour operators are taking people in vehicles, they're taking them on the water, they're taking them on the ice, all things that have large amounts of risk...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that pretty much everybody sitting on this side campaigned on a bit of a change mandate, so that does completely incorporate, as well, the BDIC. I can't speak to why the BDIC has been run how it's been run. I have heard the same and similar complaints that the Member has raised, or concerns or issues the Member has raised. When having that conversation with Ms. St-Denis, who is currently the acting CEO of the BDIC, we both recognized that there could be changes that should be made and really a re-evaluation of the purpose of what the BDIC is doing and how it's...

Thank you, Madam Chair. A few things, there. This wears both my hats because some of the procurement tracking is through infrastructure, as well. That's good. That's probably why both of these are usually with the same person. That work is going on. I have asked in that department for a review of where the money is being spent in the different regions. We are conducting that overarching procurement and BIP review that we've been discussing lots and then coming to AOC for conversations and input on moving forward.

The BIP office in Hay River is the BIP office. There are two people working there...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, we will be donating that building back to you afterwards. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am a different Minister, as stated before. I have given the direction to BDIC that I would like to see the developmental side of things go forward. I believe, before, it was more of a banking type institution. We will, as mentioned, have a new CEO. That person will be selected by the selection committee, and then names will be put forward to me. I will have the final recommendation on that.

My goal is to have a person in place who is creative, who is flexible, who is approachable, who is neutral, and who is going to do what is best for the people of this territory...

If that process does exist, I will provide you with it. If that process hasn't been used in the past, I commit to you that it's going to be used in the future under my ministerialship. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm not intimately dialed into the marketing plans for the fishers, but we are continuing to partner with the FFMC to do so, and we have a large capital cost that we're going to roll over, the $500,000, so I think that would be more in the capital budget where we would be discussing the plant itself. However, I'm committed to promoting NWT fish and promoting it locally as well as interprovincially, interterritorially. Yes, we will work hard with them to promote our fishers. Thank you.