Wally Schumann

To get a sign along the side of the highway, that is through the Department of Infrastructure. There are both guidelines and a formal process that is in place to approve all sign applications for signage along our highway network in the Northwest Territories. Signs need to meet a technical requirement. Any person or organization who wants to put up a sign must apply through an application process.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. From what I know of what is going on with the tourism information centre in Tuktoyaktuk is we are going to help do a feasibility study on the prospect of something happening there, but I think the Member might be referring to something that potentially could be in the capital budget going forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are having a look at Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk from an operational perspective of what we can do in the long-term to possibly help mitigate some of these circumstances that can arise from sea ice challenges, or even fuel shortages. One of the things I think that we need to have a look at, and the department is looking at scoping out, is what infrastructure do we have in place in those two communities, and what would need to be put in there to help mitigate the factor, particularly around the resupply of fuel and the storage capacity that we have in these two communities...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we said, this is a pilot project that we have initiated. The main reasons we have done this are due to safety reasons, for one thing. There has been so much traffic on the Ingraham Trail. A number of the operators who have been operating out there who don't have access to land are stopping right on the highway and turning their lights off for viewing opportunities. That has created a very big safety hazard. As we know, in the wintertime is the resupply for fuel for the diamond mines. There is an atrocious amount of traffic that is out there.

This is one of the reasons...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left, I have Nina Salvador, director of finance and administration for ITI. On my immediate right, I have Deputy Minister Tom Jensen. On our far right, we have Tracy St-Denis, assistant deputy minister of economic development. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. One of the things that we did in the last little bit is we did a program review of Arctic Energy Alliance. We've updated committee on that to restructure that, to see that we -- this is a public facing energy efficiency and conservation renewal alternative energy program for the residents of the Northwest Territories. We wanted to make sure that these new programs lined up with the needs of the funding that we received, and we've rejigged a good portion of it. With the additional funding that we've got, we'll be able to expand some of our programs, and I believe that some...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Absolutely, we will share that with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I would. I am pleased to present the 2019-2020 Main Estimates for Industry, Tourism and Investment. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $2.9 million or 5 percent over the 2018-2019 Main Estimates.

The estimates include several funding increases to support departmental priorities.

An increase in funding for tourism marketing is proposed to help our highest potential renewable-resource industry continue its growth. Also included is additional funding for parks operations to support their role in this growth while providing high-quality facilities...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member makes it sound like we are in dire straits here in procured shared services, and that is clearly not the case. He and I have argued this on the floor of the House a number of times. The department is working on stuff. We made improvements to the RFP evaluation process. We do mandatory customer service training and fairness advisory training with all of our staff. There are a number of things that we continue to work on, and we continue to evaluate on procured shared services moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you look at the new mineral claims that have taken place in the Northwest Territories since 2015-2016 in particular and forward, the growth has been 165 percent, 175 percent, so, as a result of this increase in mineral activity registration transaction plan inquiries, there is a need to ensure that industry clients receive timely approvals of their claims, work-report filings, related transactions, necessary device, and support for their regulatory requirements related to mineral tender and management that is administered by the mining recorder's office are met. The...