David Ramsay

I know business people around the Northwest Territories are very smart when it comes to trying to make ends meet and survive what is a bit of a downturn. We’re not going to see the millions and millions of dollars being spent in the Sahtu as we’ve seen in previous seasons gone past. That is taking a bit of a hiatus here, so we are going to need folks to ensure that they’re looking after that bottom line, they’re ensuring that they are going to be able to survive until the activity comes back, and it’s just not going to be the extent that it was last winter. Good businesses and good business...

Yes, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe there is a conference that is being planned or coordinated in the region, and that’s something that we look forward to certainly supporting. The department does have a number of business supports in place for businesses not only in the Sahtu but around the territory. With the decline in activity in the area this coming winter, things are going to be difficult for some businesses; we understand that. We want to try to continue to work with businesses in the Sahtu to ensure that they have the support necessary to see themselves through what could be a difficult...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my right is Sylvia Haener, deputy minister, Department of Justice; and to my left is Ms. Kim Schofield, director of finance, Department of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling the Northwest Territories Coroner Service 2013 Annual Report. This report sets out some information on the history of the coroner’s service, the role and structure of the office and some information on their work in 2013. This report reminds us that in the Northwest Territories, we have a number of dedicated volunteers who are deeply committed to assisting those in their communities at times of tragedy. They work with circumstances and situations that most of us are unable or unwilling to face.

Coroners play a vital role in our justice system. They...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to take a second to thank David Brock for his service to the House and to the residents of the Northwest Territories. He is a consummate professional. I wish him well in his future endeavours, and I am very happy to see a local woman become the new Chief Electoral Officer here in the Northwest Territories, a proud moment for our territory and a proud moment for Ms. Latour.

Mr. Speaker, our goal is to develop the commercial fishery on Great Slave Lake, and if we can’t do that within our borders with the fisher people that we have here in the Northwest Territories, certainly we have to look outside of our borders for other opportunities to attract fisher people to come to the Northwest Territories. That is really how the industry got started in the first place, was folks coming to Great Slave Lake and fishing Great Slave Lake that weren’t from the Northwest Territories, and that’s something that we currently are exploring. Thank you.

We have a number of programs through ITI that are going to help in attracting new fishers to the industry and, as well, helping those that are already in the industry. We have a Fish Harvesters Support Program, we have a Commercial Fish Harvesters Support Program, we have a Fish Harvesters Expansion Program, we have a Fish Harvesters New Entrants Support Program and also some core funding available to existing fishermen on Great Slave Lake. Thank you.

Again, through the EOS, we have identified some money for training, and in the case of Sandy Creek Lodge on the Hay River Reserve, I will go back to the department and see if we can get some staff to contact the reserve and the folks that are operating the lodge to see where it is we can best help them and we’ll try to get them the help that they need. Thank you.

Thank you. I know they are in discussion with a large national organization on hosting a conference here next year in the Northwest Territories. Because we have a dedicated person in that position, as well, they are familiarizing themselves with services and opportunities around the Northwest Territories. It isn’t just a Yellowknife Convention Bureau it is a Northwest Territories Convention Bureau and if something fits in a community, if a community can host a convention or a group of business leaders or a meeting, certainly those things will be looked at. We believe very highly that this...