Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories is very committed to the development of biomass in the Northwest Territories, as we believe this project will create regional economic development opportunities and local employment. It will also probably help revitalize the NWT forestry industry, which could bring in sawmills and other such things. The department itself has committed to the FMA holders in both Fort Resolution and Fort Providence SEED funding for assistance under that program for marketing and business planning. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the tourism industry offers enormous potential to create economic growth and diversification in our regions and in our communities. In fact, while other sectors around the world are experiencing challenges, the Northwest Territories tourism sector continues to grow. Between 2010-2011 and 2015-2016, the number of visitors to our territory has increased from 65,000 to 93,000. Visitor spending in this timeframe has also increased from $94.1 million to $167.1 million.

These numbers represent new money for our tourism operators, hotels, restaurants, shops, festivals, and events. They...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was the previous Minister of ENR, I know a little bit about the Forest Management Act. Hopefully we are going to have that coming forward into the life of this Legislative Assembly to move it forward. ENR continues to move that legislation along, and ITI will be working closely, as I've said, with all Members of the Legislative Assembly and all departments to help move this project along. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the Jean Marie, if you want to talk about that specific bridge, the pre-engineering design and tender will be done in 2016-2017 and construction will be done in 2017-2018. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is absolutely correct, calcium chloride is what we use on the highways, EK35 is used on runways due to the nature that it doesn't corrode the aircraft. Calcium chloride is significantly cheaper than EK35. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We want to actually proceed with this work and we want to try to actually proceed and have the work done in the next couple of months. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd love to see it within bundle No. 3, too, but I don't believe that's going to happen. Moving forward, we have a great infrastructure deficit in the Northwest Territories, as I've said before in this House.

We could spend every dollar that the federal government has committed to transportation across the country and we'd never meet the deficit of the infrastructure of highways in the Northwest Territories. So moving forward we have to make the best use of our money and we will continue to do so. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, it will not be completed this year. We'll be going into 2018-2019 to finish that project. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As this is a federally funded program, chances are that this is going to have to be publicly tendered. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're waiting to hear back from the City of Yellowknife with the plan we presented, and also I forget to mention we're waiting to hear back from the developer of the site because some of the trail may cross or impeded onto his property as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.