Brendan Bell

I will certainly bring this point and this discussion to the Premier's attention. I think it's important if we're going to have a corporate message for the Government of the Northwest Territories, that obviously it's his department that needs to take the lead. But as the Territories are concerned, territorial-wide and as it relates to tourism, I think we do need to do and make more of an effort to brand the Northwest Territories around the world. It's a competitive market for tourism expenditures and there are many countries and many jurisdictions in the world for tourists to visit. We’d...

Certainly, I will do that. I have had my staff approach the AOC committee staff to make sure that we put the offer out there for a briefing on this policy. I know that we're very jammed up here trying to get a budget through by the 31st, and it's likely something that will happen after session, but I would like to come before committee and talk about it. I'm not sure if it was the GED committee or the AOC committee; I'll certainly check. Obviously we can make that available to all regular Members. Thank you.

Thank you. For Members of the Assembly, that's a decision the Board of Management would have to make, but I think it's a good idea. I think that reference to a Web site is probably more helpful than a 1-800 number. I see no reason why we wouldn't look at something like this. It's a very inexpensive way to promote the Territories. It would have to go to the Board of Management. Where it relates to RWED, I'll certainly have discussions about that with my staff. But I think it's something the Member should bring to the attention of the board. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a very interesting proposal. While I won't commit to making a policy change at this point or implementing such a scheme, it is something that I would like to take a further look at. I had discussions this morning with the Yukon MP, Larry Bagnell. We had discussions about the need to work collaboratively as three territories to brand Canada's North, or brand the Canadian Arctic. I think we can get more bang for our buck if we work in conjunction. I had certainly indicated to him that I will be reaching out to the Ministers of Tourism in Yukon and Nunavut, to...

It is a very interesting idea. I suppose I would ask the Member if she is proposing that we revisit the "Within Reach but Beyond Belief" message or slogan that we have had on behalf of the Arctic in the past. Is that the suggestion, that we need to sort of retool that and come up with another message? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right; the offer has been made to GED. I don't know how the protocol will work in this Assembly, but certainly in the past committees were able to invite other regular Members who had an interest in participating to participate in those meetings. If that's not the case, then I will certainly make the offer to AOC.

I would say that the nature of this policy change is related to the 14-day stay at territorial campgrounds. I know that it has been a difficulty, especially here locally and in Hay River, that the local residents can only stay in any...

Certainly, we can do that. I will do that. Thank you.

Thank you. We do rely on southern auction houses to sell the furs, and I know the Member is very aware of that. I think we recognize that we had some communication problems initially with helping people in the territory understand some of the recent changes we’ve made to the programs. Sometimes that’s because there’s turnover at the local level and we tried to address that by putting together a communications package and making sure that our renewable resource officers have this information and can speak with community members. I think it’s also about making sure that in the large markets in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate your procedural advice. I think I’ll heed some political advice and answer the man’s question here today…

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…to make sure that we keep things on the right track. I think it’s a very interesting question and the Member is mentioning our philosophy of enforcement as it relates to the protection of the environment and the protection of wildlife. Of course, we have obligations in that regard that flow from land claims. It’s very important to realize and to work with communities to help them realize where there are economic development...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll certainly sit down with my Cabinet colleagues and specifically Minister Dent to discuss this issue because I think it’s very important that we support people who want to pursue traditional lifestyles and want to live on the land. Obviously, though, you have to have some means to sustain yourself. You have to have some ability to have an income. I think that I am certainly very proud of the work that we’ve done for the hunting and trapping, specifically the trapping community. I think our Mackenzie Valley fur pricing program, the prime fur bonus, helps and goes a...