Michael Nadli

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. In my statement I made reference to SEED funding in the amount of $21.5 million that were distributed to all 33 communities in 2014 and 2015. The question that I have for the Minister is how are grants and contributions monitored to ensure they are used for their intended purpose? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's all the questions I have.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just making a reference to a recent report that tourism is up and you know I think this government has to be commended in terms of at least improving the baseline infrastructure for a lot of tourist facilities, and especially when people drive up the highways.

So I'm trying to understand whether the schedule for improvements to, you know, the other parks as well, like I know there's Alexander Falls close to Enterprise and, you know, there's some improvements that could be made, and of course in Kakisa as well, at the park there as well. But particularly for Fort...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, my question pertains to tourism and it lists, much to my delight, a lot of improvements to territorial parks in the riding I serve, Deh Cho. I just wanted to understand, particularly for Fort Providence and Kakisa, whether the reporting and relationship is either from the Fort Simpson District Office or the Hay River District Office. If the Minister could maybe clarify that for me? Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are good things that this department is doing in terms of supporting small businesses in small communities. Just to name a few, like, there's a Business Incentive Policy and plus there's policy in terms of how it is that this department provides funding for small businesses. One proviso is if there's an existing business in a small community the department heeds to the policy of, you know, not creating any market disruption and policies like that. How often are programs reviewed to ensure effectiveness and incorporate feedback from clientele?

Could the Minister state in terms of committee and this side of the House, in terms of how it is that perhaps the review's been done, whether there's a scope of a terms of reference or a framework in terms of just how detailed perhaps the report could be developed in terms of accounting for that amount of money from that year, but also perhaps for the past fiscal year?

The other question that I had is how does this department coordinate its work with other departments to ensure that habitat is protected? We have a series of conservation area network initiatives that are pending or being developed or advanced. Would the Minister explain in terms of its coordination with other departments in terms of ensuring that habitat is protected?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about a traditional economy and my questions today are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. In small and remote communities there's a heavy reliance in terms of traditional foods where people have to supplement their diets and their income by taking on traditional economy and so it becomes a very critical and integral part of the community's economy. How is this government investing in the promotion and protection of traditional lifestyles? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. In the outset, the Minister had indicated that he would be interested in developing at least a summary in terms of the investment of this government in terms of assistance to small communities and their traditional economy. Would the Minister commit to ensuring that report is tabled within the House at a given time and made available to this side of the House? Mahsi.

I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. In the past, the Protected Area Strategy outlined a seven-step process in terms of bringing governments and communities to work on conservation area networks. Can the Minister explain how the conservation area network will improve upon the PAS initiative?