Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think I heard the Minister say that he is open, then, to receiving more information about how the destination marketing organization is going to roll out and what additional support our government might provide to help support the burgeoning tourism industry here in Yellowknife? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Could he share that marketing plan, then, with standing committee? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess, my last point, I don't really expect a response necessarily from the Minister. I have already said this before. We have raised more revenues now from tobacco taxes than the oil and gas and mining royalties. We get $16 million in tobacco taxes. For mining, oil, and gas royalties, we get $13.4, maybe $13.5. The liquor commission revenues are $24.7 million, about twice what we get from mining, oil, and gas royalties. This, to me, demonstrates the need for us to examine how we collect these revenues and whether they are appropriate or not and whether we are getting a...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I would like to know: there don't seem to be any line items here for economic diversification business support that might be related to supporting the arts other than there is a Great Northern Arts Festival contribution and the film industry rebate program. How does ITI Support the arts?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let's start with something really small then. How about keeping the boat launch at Fred Henne open past the Labour Day weekend? It's not even part of the park. There's a separate gate. What about starting with something really small like that? This is an area that's well used by Yellowknifers. Can the Minister look at keeping that open into September, later in September, so that residents of Yellowknife can continue to boat on the lake? That's something really small. I don't think that's going to cost a lot of money, but let's hear what the Minister has to say. Thank you...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, that's an honest answer. What is happening with the property? Are we actually trying to market this property yet, or what has happened? We have had it now for probably, what, two years, so what is happening? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. It has declined precipitously, from over $20 million in 2016-2017 to $2.3 million. Does this just reflect a lot less activity that is going on? Are these reduced fees or something here? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Well, I gave the Minister an opportunity to provide some specifics on policy, legislative, and structural changes, and he didn't take me up on the offer. When the Auditor General conducted the climate change audit, ENR was down to two staff on this file. How could we allow that to happen?

Can the Minister explain what he's doing to convince his colleague, the Minister of Finance, to secure the resources necessary to properly implement the actions to allow us to meet our international and national obligations with regard to climate change?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I can vouch for some of those parks on the other side of the lake because I've stayed in all of them, but there are some great parks on this side of the lake, as well: Fred Henne, Prelude, Reid Lake, all of which our family has used. Where is the department looking at in terms of keeping some of those open longer into the fall? Part of the reason I raise this is they already do it in the Yukon. They have tremendous road traffic through there. I use their parks past the usual closing date, and, from what I've seen and understand, they get great usage of those parks even into...

That's all I've got for now. I'm just a bit surprised at the last one, but I'm sure I'll have a chance to chat with the Minister more about it. Thanks, Mr. Chair.