Kieron Testart

Thank you. North Slave Correctional Centre Security Retrofit. We are still looking at this project. What is the status of it? Thank you.

There are, of course, a lot of discussion around a bricks-and-mortar facility. I know that, at this time, that is not really in the cards. That is what we have heard loud and clear. There is good evidence to support that. We are looking at the former Stanton Hospital site. Are there going to be any additional detox or aftercare programs operated through that lease once the new hospital opens?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With the first round of calls to the National Trade Corridors funding from the Government of Canada, with this project not being included in that funding, where does this get us? We are putting the work into this study right now. Does the government believe that is going to get us any closer to success when we are looking for federal dollars? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I spoke of a constituent of mine who undertook a tremendous amount of grassroots advocacy for local options for addictions treatment in the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if he can speak to the aftercare programs that the government is currently operating and in the process of reviewing. He has spoken about it on the floor in the House before, if he can give this House an update. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the Chair of Committee of the Whole leave the chair and rise to report progress. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister just confirm whether or not that was what the department has already undertaken? I am more interested in the detailed multi-year funding proposal that is in to the federal government. Can the committee or the public see that proposal at this time? Thank you.

Thank you to the Minister. I would very much appreciate that. I do not recall any specific spending in the last budget towards cannabis public education. This is obviously an issue that is very important as we roll out this process. Can the Minister just confirm whether or not it was additional money voted in the budget or whether it is internal resources from the department proper?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for that update. Finally, as it relates to supporting tourism in the capital or, indeed, throughout the Northwest Territories, the Minister said that the resources are very limited and the demand is outpacing them. Given the needs in Yellowknife and given the needs across the territory, is the Minister willing to bring forward additional financial resources or adjust the budget so we can properly seize on the opportunities presented by tourism? As I said in my statement, Mr. Speaker, they are limitless, but we certainly need to invest in them...

Thank you to the Minister. That is good news. What is the long-term plan for this project? Is it ongoing contribution to support operations until that study is done, or is this the extent of the support this government is providing for tourism services in Yellowknife?

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the start of Tourism Week in Canada and to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of the tourism industry here in the Northwest Territories. We can all talk at great length about the need for further economic diversification into new industries in the Northwest Territories, but nothing compares to the sheer potential of our tourism markets. While I still believe that national resource extraction will continue to be the economic bedrock of the NWT, we must look toward other opportunities that can bolster our economy in times of low commodity prices...