Kieron Testart

Language is important and I obviously have to be careful, as does the honourable Premier.

On the topic of land rights agreements, Mr. Speaker, there was the commitment to have a new offer to the Dehcho processed within 90 days. Was that offer made? I'll just leave it there. Was that offer made? Was a new offer given to the Dehcho in 90 days of the Premier taking office?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate those answers from the Minister. As the Minister knows, the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning has recommended an increase to the Mineral Incentive Program in the amount of $600,000 of new funding. The budget last year was $1,010,000 and we've seen that basically cut in half. Sorry, that's page 206. That's a sunset in the Mackenzie Valley development. So it will be an increase of $600,000 to the $400,000, bringing that total to $1 million. Is the Minister prepared to reinstate, or does the Minister have a reason not to reinstate, the grants and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to recognize my partner, Ms. Colleen Wellborn, who is joining us today. It her first time seeing me in the House and it is long overdue. Thanks for being here.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, I have heard the Minister say he wants to support this industry and that we are doing a lot to support it and that our government has its own programs that shouldn't be held in contrast with other jurisdictions. Can the Minister point to any increased funding or a new program or a new initiative specifically that is designed to address the needs of our mining industry at a time when risk capital is at an all-time low and when there is much uncertainty in the Northwest Territories and when we see the lowest land tenure, mineral tenure, in the history of the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is that the only source of marketing funding that is available from the department, that contribution to the NWT TTA? Are there any other avenues for destination marketing that are currently undertaken through this activity? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is the NWT geological survey going to be impacted at an operational level or hampered in its ability to provide high-quality data to the mining industry? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to clarify this mandate commitment, the intention is to only really pursue the Doi T'oh Territorial Park as an expanded tourist option. I just note that it makes a commitment to build new parks; is Doi T'oh the only new territorial park on the horizon? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that the entire Cabinet did attend the Roundup conference. That shows that we are willing to go to extraordinary measures to show leadership and support on this industry. I think, furthering that leadership, we should be increasing this fund to at least be comparable to our neighbours in the Yukon. Does the Minister disagree with that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Midterm, when we review this mandate, is rapidly approaching, so I expect that, if we have an idea of what this plan is going to cost and whether or not we can accomplish it, we should know sooner than later. Further to this commitment, there is also a commitment to expand tourism options by building new parks, such as the Doi T'oh Territorial Park in the Sahtu region. What is the status of that development of new parks and in particular, the Doi T'oh Territorial Park? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Mineral Incentive Program has remained, I would say, stagnant; I am sure the Minister would say stable funding at $400,000, whereas our neighbouring jurisdiction, the Yukon, for fiscal year 2017-18 has invested $1.6 million into this fund. How is the Minister ensuring that this incentive program is competitive with other jurisdictions in Canada and is attracting exploration here in the Northwest Territories compared to other jurisdictions? Thank you.