Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we can do that as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When Infrastructure was putting forward our requests for federal dollars for the bilaterals we signed, along with all of the other sources of funding that we are trying to secure, the first thing we did is we checked the mandate. That is the first thing we have done. We checked the mandate and identified the priorities that were within the mandate. We have looked at the 20-year capital-needs assessment and the annual capital-planning process.

That is the process, we have done that, and then, when we do that, we also have to look at the alignment of objectives and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Comments are noted.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It would be a rough cost estimate, but we can bring that forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, we have looked at this option, as well. The ferry most often shuts down during this season, like at the end of the year, I guess, is what I'm trying to say. It's due to heavy ice flow or low water. It's usually heavy ice flow. Moving it up river I don't think is going to be able to extend the season. It's not likely.

We also did a preliminary cost structure on this, too, and that is going to cost an extra $3.2 million if we were to look at that option. The other thing that we would have look at if we actually did that option would be land acquisition, land use permits, potential water...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When they became commercially available, we will have a look at it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, 2020 is coming due, and we have made successful milestones. As all Members of this House know, we have already achieved probably what we wanted to there as far as number of tourists coming to the Northwest Territories and the amount of money spent in the NWT. We will continue to work on that. We will probably be releasing some of those numbers shortly, of last year's visitations and money spent in the NWT, and I think most Members will be happy.

We will be working closely with all proponents, being us and Members of this House, for feedback, as well as NWT Tourism to develop 2025. I just...

As I have said, I only have the money that is allocated to me, but I am glad to sit down with committee. Anytime they want to have a discussion on how we can improve different funding levels for different programs within my portfolio, I am glad to do that, but the real crux of this is we only have so much money that this government has. If you are going to give it to me, you are going to have to take it from someone else on this side of the room, so that is the hard discussion that we are going to have to make here. Without increasing revenues in this territory and attracting more capital and...

The department has a number of mechanisms that we can support business and provide business relief. I would encourage any business that is in this situation being described by the Member to contact our regional office and talk to one of our client personnel. ITI will look at individual applications and present it on a case-by-case basis for assistance under our SEED program.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, ITI has to work within the constraints of the budgetary process and the money that we are allocated. We have had a serious look at the SEED Program. This House knows that. We looked at it last year. We have changed things around to try to make things better for entrepreneurs by changing certain parameters around programs and having regional supports. We will continue to do that within the budget that we have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.