Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have had the good fortune of knowing Tony Whitford for many years from back in the ‘60s in Fort Smith. I have a number of stories but I was going to save most of them for tonight at the dinner.

I guess some of the most memorable moments with Tony was when he first got elected as Minister. He came and stole my secretary at that time. During the height of the anti-trapping campaign by the European Union, the Legislative Assembly assembled a team of MLAs to go to the European Union to counter this proposed boycott and I had the good fortune to travel with Tony Whitford...

Thank you. It has been a challenge in trying to change, to review our Diamond Policy for a number of reasons. One is we’re working with the express direction that we should no longer provide loan guarantees. So our whole objective with the review of our Diamond Policy is to make a system in place that makes it more feasible for manufacturers to operate so they have a better opportunity to have a sustainable business.

As well, making these changes, we want to find a way to keep the existing cutters and polishers that are in town to continue to be able to find full and meaningful employment. As...

Thank you. We do have the opportunity, as well, to look at the thermal rates, whether Norman Wells could be included as part of the thermal rate communities, that’s another option. But as far as the federal government and their one-third ownership of the Norman Wells production, that’s something that we’ll take under advisement. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the agreements that are in place require us to monitor it. It is tied to the price of heating oil. We monitor it on that basis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Mr. Chris Hunt, entrepreneur around town. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I’d like to point out that the Business Incentive Policy has been in place since, I believe, the 12th Assembly and every government has tried to change it, without success. In this case, the Business Incentive Policy is a Government of the Northwest Territories policy. There’s a requirement for this government to use only BIP approved facilities. In the example the Member uses in Inuvik, there are three hotels. Only one of those hotels is a BIP approved business and that is why we are only using that hotel. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize Mr. Ron Ostrom, director of marketing with NWT Tourism and also Janine Carmichael with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, an organization powered by entrepreneurs. She is a representative for Western Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last weekend our territorial parks were opened to the public in every region except Inuvik where those parks will open on June 1st. This kicks off the summer tourism season here in the Northwest Territories. We will also celebrate NWT Tourism Week from June 7 to 13. With these events taking place and with this being the last session until the fall, I think this is an appropriate time to highlight the importance of the tourism industry to our Territory.

That importance is demonstrated in dollars and cents. Last year tourism contributed $130.3 million to the Northwest...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled Businesspeople Working for Other Businesspeople, Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation Corporate Plan 2010-2011, and NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation Annual Report 2008-2009. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. In our view this is a Government of the Northwest Territories policy. It has no implications for land claims. In the example that the Member uses, I believe he’s talking about the Inuvik Capital Suites. It’s 50 percent owned by the Zheh Gwizu Limited and 50 percent by NewNorth Projects Ltd. The Business Incentive Policy is very clear as to the requirements for definition of a northern business and the Business Incentive Policy approval requires either 51 percent northern ownership or they be a grandfathered company, which has a minimum of 10 years operating in the North with...