Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Menicoche.

Page 12-13, Industry, Tourism and Investment activity summary, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, $7.52 million.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to follow up on my enthusiasm for fun jive, being a fun guy.

---Laughter

It’s late, it’s late.

---Laughter

I’m wondering if, well, first of all, I was very pleased to learn that there is a history of the department being interested in that program and I’m wondering if any of the ITI staff visited the harvest that was going on in Behchoko this year to attempt to collect any information and come up with an estimate of harvest and what the value would be worth and those sorts of things to help with the planning on that important opportunity for economic...

I’m not sure how we could have done that if we don’t have authority for working with those resources. Perhaps the Minister could explain that to me and what he’s doing on the licensing side and training side for this industry.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m just wondering where the department is at with the Dettah road progress. I know there’s a lot of work that’s been happening to partner with a local firm and so on. I believe we had a budget of a couple of million dollars the first year and I’m wondering where we’re at on that. Are we spending that this year or can it be carried over? Is it carried over here if there is a carry-over?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate those remarks and that information. I think the next question is about biomass and I’m wondering what is the plan for significant replacement of fuel oil heating, particularly in our thermal communities for say with wood pellets or woodchips and I’m talking about for residences, for municipal buildings and so on. I’m not talking about any GNWT facilities. So what’s the plan, the energy planning that’s going on to get biomass replacement of fuel oil heating for residences and municipal buildings particularly in our thermal communities? Thank you.

Sorry, Mr. Yakeleya.

Page 12-10, department summary, information item, Industry, Tourism and Investment, active position summary. Questions?

Thank you, committee. Page 12-27, information item, Industry, Tourism and Investment, tourism and parks, active positions, 12-27.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the NWT’s “let burn” fire management policy the NWT is a world-class source for valuable morel and other exotic mushrooms of the highest quality. Fresh morel mushrooms bought by southern suppliers last year for $40 in the NWT sold for upwards of $120 on international markets. Demand greatly exceeds supply, guaranteeing high price returns for limited investment. Last year aggressive harvesters from the South took up to half a million dollars in mushrooms, while local pickers made only about $15,000.

The GNWT does not yet have jurisdiction over the management of...