David Ramsay

Again, I do appreciate the Member’s comments and concerns. We heard some other Members, many other Members during their opening comments on how well contractors around the Northwest Territories and our staff have been maintaining the road system here in the Northwest Territories. I thank the Members that provided those comments.

Again, as we go forward here, I don’t want people to think that this highway, the Inuvik-Tuk highway between Inuvik and Tuk was solely premised on the Mackenzie Gas Project. Again, we are still optimistic that the Mackenzie Gas Project will go ahead, but there are a...

Madam Chair, that was a few months back. It was around $100,000. It was through Public Works and Services that the repairs were conducted on the Inuvik terminal building. Thank you.

We had received that information from the RCMP and if the question comes up down the road from Members, we can certainly try to find that detailed information through the RCMP. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There was a runway length study conducted a number of years ago in the Northwest Territories on runway lengths and communities were looked at. The community of Aklavik was not deemed to be a priority at that time for a runway extension. If the Member feels that maybe that’s changed or something’s changed in the community that would make that more of a priority, we would be willing to listen to that.

On the other item on de-icing and the equipment for de-icing, that’s an air carrier issue, so if the air carrier is providing service into a community, it’s their...

Thank you, Madam Chair. It’s still very early. It’s only been almost six months. To date, there have been 30 charges laid under the distracted driving legislation to date in the territory. For a further breakdown, I suppose we could find out by community for the Member if he likes.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Earlier I spoke of the close to $1 million that goes out between ITI and ECE in support of artists around the Northwest Territories. We do support festivals. We support our artists. I also should mention BDIC and Northern Canada Trading. I think that’s a component of the BDIC that I believe currently is underutilized and something I’d like to see have more far-reaching impact. I think we as a government should take more of an active role in promoting our own artists and getting goods produced locally here in the Northwest Territories, into a storefront somewhere to be sold to the travelling...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. NWT artisans and filmmakers make a positive economic and cultural impact on our territory and today I would like to highlight some initiatives to support and grow the arts, crafts and film sectors.

Through the office of the film commissioner, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has been working closely with the NWT film industry over the past year. Last year the GNWT met with film and media arts representatives for a review of the territorial film industry. They identified the need for a fully interactive and information rich website to promote filming and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Agriculture Products Marketing Council 2011-12 Annual Report.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Business Incentive Policy is a policy of the Government of the Northwest Territories. If Members of this House want to revisit the Business Incentive Policy, is there a loophole here that allowed a southern company to get a contract in Inuvik? If that is the case, then if Members of this House want to have another look at the Business Incentive Policy, it is under the purview of this Assembly to do that.

I understand the Member’s concerns. I want to let him know and other Members know that we are willing to work with Members to try to shore up the policy so that situations like...