David Ramsay

I can get the information for the Member on the $50,000 and how it was spent in each of our regions and where it went. I can provide that to him. We have to look back at the Economic Opportunities Strategy and our focus on diversifying the economy here in the Northwest Territories. Certainly, tourism is one area last year, I believe, it was somewhere near $120 million to our economy here in the Northwest Territories. It has the opportunity, and I’ve said before in the House, to have an impact in every one of our communities across the territory, so it’s important that we have the requisite...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour to recognize today in the House, Commanding Officer of “G” Division, Chief Superintendent Ron Smith, and also the officer in charge of criminal operations, Mike LeSage. I know they don’t get thanked enough, so I want to thank them for all the great police work they’ve done across the Northwest Territories. Most recently, with large seizures of illegal drugs and alcohol in communities across the territory. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, each year on the last Sunday of September, Canada salutes the men and women who put their lives on the line every day in their role as police and peace officers.

In Yellowknife on September 27th, RCMP, peace officers, family members and the public came together to recognize and honour the loss of loved ones, friends and colleagues who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Since the 1870s, 222 officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and its forerunner, the North West Mounted Police, have died across Canada. We owe each of them a profound and continuing debt of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following nine documents, entitled “Oil and Gas Engagement Strategy Report – Pathways to Petroleum Development;” a “Follow-up Letter for OQ 762-17(5): Supports for Sewing and Beading Craftwork;” a “Follow-up Letter for OQ 831-17(5): Business Incentive Policy;” a “Follow-up Letter for OQ 833-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvesting Concerns;” a “Follow-up Letter for OQ 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest;” a “Follow-up Letter for OQ 855-17(5): Responsible Energy Exploration and Development;” a “Follow-up Letter for OQ 864-17(5): Water Safety and Hydraulic...

I believe we need to back what is working, and for the Northwest Territories, certainly Aurora is working, our Aboriginal tourism product is growing, and we believe that’s going to work as well. So we have to continue to back what is being successful. I believe we have tremendous opportunity here in the Northwest Territories to market the products that we have to audiences around the world. The next government hopefully will continue on the same path this government has had, and that is to invest in marketing our tourism, our products. These things have to be marketed and nobody’s going to do...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a very strong and capable team at Northwest Territories Tourism. We have dedicated staff at the regional level through ITI who provide support to tourism operators and the licensing aspect. We have seen numbers continue to increase, and the Member is correct; when we came into office almost four years ago, we increased the marketing budget for tourism, and I believe that those efforts back then are now starting to pay dividends with the increased number of visitors from Asia, from the United States and domestically from here in Canada.

I know the Member spoke...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Bromley on June 2, 2015, regarding scientific conclusions on climate change.

ITI is committed to environmentally responsible development of NWT natural resources to grow our economy for the benefit and prosperity of all NWT residents.

Every application to withdraw water in the NWT, including for hydraulic fracturing, is review on a case-by-case basis. Consideration will be given to the volume of available source water in the area as well as any cumulative impacts from other withdrawals in the region. Any water licence will set...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Bill 64, An Act to Amend the Co-operative Associations Act, be read for the second time.

This bill amends the Co-operative Associations Act to define the essential characteristics of a co-operative enterprise; improve procedures for the incorporation, naming, amalgamation and continuance of co-operative associations; clarify rules respecting joint membership; permit the directors of a co-operative to terminate a membership; clarify requirements for the redemption of shares; clarify responsibilities of directors...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 62, An Act to Amend the Coroners Act, be read for the second time.

This bill amends the Coroners Act to clarify the duty to report certain deaths to a coroner or a police officer; enhance the powers of coroners in conducting investigations and inquests; clarify the circumstances in which coroners may arrange for assistance to be provided by others in carrying out certain functions; clarify the duties and powers of the chief coroner to disclose information, including personal information; prohibit...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government has already made a commitment to the people of the Northwest Territories to take the time that we need to ensure that we get this right and that we intend to do just that. There is no oil and gas activity in the Northwest Territories today and we don’t expect to see any for at least the next couple of years. This pause gives us the opportunity to look at the science, to look at best practices from around the world and to design a world-class approach to managing it. Time is on our side and we should use that time to our advantage.

Last week I committed...