Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government has identified the falls in the Snowdrift River as an ideal place for a mini-hydro development and work started in 2007-08 and there was additional work done in 2008-09. We are also planning a large infusion this year. Hydro projects do take time and we have to collect about two years of baseline environmental data, we have to undertake the engineering work and also figure out the regulatory process that we have to go through. Once we get all of that information and develop the cost estimates and work plan, then we would have to develop a business deal...

We’ve been doing a lot of work and preparing for this invasion of tourists. In 2009-10 we’ve spent resources to upgrade our facilities. We’re planning to do additional work this summer. As well, I should point out that we will be examining opportunities with some of the land claim organizations or land claim, their government or businesses, to see if we can work in partnership with aboriginal governments to identify opportunities in the tourism sector. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Specifically to increasing the infrastructure to provide for RV parking, I’m pleased to announce to the Member that we are increasing the number of parking sites or camping sites that people with RVs can pull into. We’re also looking or studying the potential for expanding Fred Henne Park and we’re also looking at whether there are any possibilities out at Prelude Campsite. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think the initial plans envisage that we would just have a quad trail to the site. In my view, I think it would be beneficial to have a road, recognizing that that would add to the cost of the project, and it could make a difference whether the project is viable or feasible. So I think once we get the information to allow us to determine whether it’s feasible to build an all-weather road, then we could make that decision. We expect the government will have all that information by this October. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We don’t have an agreement finalized yet for this year and, according to the rules of the main estimates, we can’t put it in here until it’s signed off and agreed upon. So that’s why there’s nothing there this year. Through you, Mr. Chair, I’ll ask Ms. Magrum to give more detail on this area. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We have our senior management travelling to Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson as we speak. So I’m sure those kinds of opportunities will be brought to their attention. I think that any opportunities to increase the revenue stream of our businesses under the BDIC will be pursued.

As far as working with the co-op, we work with the co-op in a number of communities, so we can do that. In terms of directors of the various companies, we went out and advertised for volunteers to sit on the different companies because it was an Auditor General requirement, so most of the businesses are filled by...

We have a bit of flexibility in the program, so our regional office has worked closely with the schools and I think that’s where the flexibility comes in. I know some of the communities, the teachers go out so the kids or the youth can also learn while they’re out there. So if a group of trappers want to get together and bring youth out, I’m sure it could be worked out. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, I would, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do have a whole host of programs that are available and also we work in very close partnership with other departments and other Ministers. So, for example, we work very closely with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and Municipal and Community Affairs and also we’ve even had the federal government provide funding on occasion. So the communities that have been most successful in getting the youth to become interested in trapping or being exposed to trapping are the ones that have involved almost the whole community. They bring in elders and so on to...

We’re doing a number of things with regard to value-added. We are undertaking a review of the competitiveness of the Northwest Territories and we would be looking at competing jurisdictions, because Avalon has told us that they are looking at different locations, not only in the Northwest Territories but also in Alberta and Saskatchewan. So we will be looking at the different jurisdictions.

We’re also planning with our colleagues from DIAND, or CanNor I guess is the more appropriate term, a value-added workshop so that we can determine how we can best support it. Specifically it has been...