Katrina Nokleby

Yes, I completely do commit to making these changes. I think that, within the department, I have recognized that it is a much more complex situation than when I was first speaking to you about this. I do recognize that people are tired of excuses and tired of hearing, "We just have to do it this way," and playing it safe, because that is pretty much the messaging, is that the safest thing for me as a Minister is to put everything out to open tender, and then I protect myself.

That is not the way that we will be going forward, and I can guarantee and commit to that right now. We are already in...

Yes. Just one second, here. Thank you, Madam Chair. Under strategic infrastructure, over this last one, we have had an increase of $36,000, which was the collective agreement wage increases. In the past, we have seen a decrease of $134,000. That was $14,000 of incremental collective agreement wage increases, as well, there. Net of in 2019-2020, there was a one-time supplementary appropriation funding and transfers. Are you following? Okay. $148,000 of that funding was to provide support to the Slave Geological Province Corridor project, the design and planning. That was federal funding, so...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would hope that everything in my department does is based on real numbers. I hope he doesn't mind, but I will let Dr. Dragon answer this one, too. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There has been lots of back and forth. I'm going to guess though there has been some where, perhaps, they haven't had that follow up. Again, I don't have the metrics of how many have actually responded and came back, but I do understand from my department that there has been a lot of back and forth with our contractors. I know myself, personally, I've had a lot of contractors reaching out to me and had conversations with them, some from your region. I guess, again, I will just ask Dr. Dragon if he actually has any sort of numbers or data around the results.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As most people are aware, a government does multiple things at a time. Supporting and advocating for one project does not mean that we are not doing others. I would completely agree. COVID has highlighted the lack of infrastructure and the have and have-nots of our territory. I 100 percent agree with that. However, Internet is actually in the Department of Finance; it's not my department. However, I do continue to work with my colleague on that, because there is a bit of an overlap in that area.

I would argue back, for your comments regarding the project, I mean, we have...

I was going to commit to having some of that discussion on the 23rd, but from listening to the Member, it sounds like he would like another day for me to come down to Hay River. I will commit to that. However, you may have to fight with the Member for Nunakput to get me there a second time before I get to his community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes. ITI is working with the Department of Health and Social Services, Environment and Natural Resources, as well as Lands, to ensure all actions identified in the strategy are moving forward. I can confirm that, under the agricultural strategy, these discussions are ongoing in the departments at the working-group level. We also are trying to be more proactive with communities when it comes to designating land for agricultural use. Over the last two years, ITI's superintendent in the South Slave has met with community leaders, is my understanding, to identify lands within the municipalities...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we talk about the value of tourism in the Northwest Territories, we often speak in terms of the dollars spent and the number of visitors tallied. In 2018-2019, the tourism industry showed record numbers in both of these categories, emphasizing once again that the approach to, and investments in, our Tourism 2020 Strategy are working. In fact, over the last five years, we have increased the number of visitors to our territory by 42 percent and boosted spending by 43 percent.

As we look to grow and diversify our territory's economy, these figures are important to our...

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, on Thursday, March 12, 2020, I will move that Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Public Highways Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can confirm, yes, to the Member that the government is ready to explore all options, including policy, legislation, regulation, and programming to advance the business of food in this territory. We believe the demand for safe, affordable, locally-grown food choices will create businesses and entrepreneurial activities that will work to strengthen and diversify our economy, as well.