Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you enter the Northwest Territories, we are quite fortunate to have rest stops and campgrounds right from Enterprise leading up right to Yellowknife. My question is to the Minister of ITI.

In these campgrounds that we have, I wanted to come to an understanding. Right now we are at the height of tourism season starting. What kind of rate structure does ITI have for campgrounds for daily to long-term usage in the campgrounds? Mahsi.

Has the department had any discussions with Health and Social Services as to a timeline of what we could perhaps expect as an opening and the operation of the health centre on the reserve?

Madam Chair, at this point has the department had any preliminary ideas as to the fate of the old health centre, realizing that, when the community health centre is completed, there will be a decision that will have to be made regarding the old health centre?

I’d like to thank the Minister for making a commitment, but I’d like to take it a step further. Can he commit to an immediate discount of rates to seniors, in terms of using the daily campgrounds, effective immediately? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, what are the common types of services that one can expect if you do use the campgrounds, or perhaps on weekends or daily rates? What kind of services should people expect? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the middle of May, people of the Northwest Territories have been enjoying our many campgrounds. Our campgrounds have seen good ties with families and friends and are home to many cherished memories. They also welcome visitors to the Northwest Territories who sometimes travel remarkable distances just to enjoy spending a few days.

Our campgrounds attract a lot of tourists, and many of them are elders. We do not recognize seniors in our current rate structure. Earlier this year Cabinet agreed to increase the tourism marketing budget. We could create even more...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I made the comment regarding the employment rates in Fort Providence. My question is to the Minister of ITI.

In the Deh Cho riding – of course we are located in the southwestern part of the NWT – we pride ourselves on being located to the gateway to the North, gateway to Denendeh. The big thing that we come across when we drive the highway, of course, is the iconic Deh Cho Bridge. This government has invested millions of dollars, and we need to ensure that we begin at some moment in time to enjoy the benefits of the investments that we’ve made and at least enjoy...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Microphone turned off] …among the most scenic, accessible, promising regions of the NWT. It is rich in resources, home to a world-renowned national park and named for one of the earth’s most majestic rivers, and now we have a completed bridge.

However, the potential of the Deh Cho area remains underdeveloped. The unemployment rate in Fort Providence was 30 percent in 2009, while the average for the NWT was closer to 10 percent. NWT residents are consistently among the highest wage earners in Canada, but at the same time, 32 percent of households in the Deh Cho report...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is encouraging to hear from the Minister that one of the steps that he begins to perhaps contemplate is an immediate step of an action plan to ensure that the Economic Development Strategy moves forward. I want to see if there could be assurances from the Minister that he’ll commit to ensure that some initiatives that are badly needed in the have-not communities, like the communities that I represent in the riding, will happen.

Would the Minister commit to ensure that the partnership will continue, especially with the wood pellet industry initiative that’s ongoing...

Following up on that, there are three other communities, including Enterprise, Hay River Reserve, Kakisa, and my riding. I want to get an indication from the Minister, what are some other ways the department is working to ensure we develop a capacity for promoting tourism? Also at the same time, there are some opportunities that some entrepreneurs are beginning to raise interest in, and I wanted to know how the department is planning to support capacity. Mahsi.