Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the majority of the NWT is made up of small communities -- 26 small communities and seven regional centres and two of them in the capital of Yellowknife. Earlier this month, a report on CBC North stated that 2016 population statistics show a decline in small communities compared to the 2011 census. Overall growth of the NWT population remains flat. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, economic activities of small communities include traditional activities such as fishing, hunting and trapping, tourism, and seasonal jobs. Governments and First Nations...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to get a sense in terms of the priorities scale. I understand there are other initiatives, including, as I stated, the Whati road that will be in progress here fairly soon. What priority scale would be the extension of the Mackenzie Valley Highway? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, minor hockey brings people together in communities across the Northwest Territories and Canada.

Fort Providence has not seen organized hockey for children since the late 1980s, but it has recently made a comeback thanks to the efforts of the Parents' Minor Hockey Committee and its newly elected president, Mr. Tim Cragg.

Mr. Speaker, many Members of this House and people listening to our proceedings today have good memories of growing up with minor hockey. Some of us still play hockey, thanks to participation in minor hockey leagues.

Mr. Speaker, minor hockey led...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. [English translation not provided]. I, too, had some comments in terms of some common themes that reflect the riding that I represent.

Just to start off, this department saw a decrease from last year of 1.5 per cent. It is one of two biggest departments besides Health and Social Services that take a big chunk of this $1.8 billion operation that we call GNWT.

Just some things that I wanted to highlight. I know this department is moving forward on the Education Act. In my recent discussion with one of the communities that I represent, they wanted to ensure that, if there is a...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The other point that I wanted to understand is that there's an increasing interest in collaboration and cooperation in terms of working with communities, and also the management of territorial parks and so forth, but to basically take an opportunity of the growing number of visitors to the parks and it's a very good thing, and so I wanted to understand that communities want to, of course, be involved. So is it critical or integral that communities have an opportunity to develop their local community tourism strategies? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just trying again to understand the efforts towards tourism. I mean, generally the initiatives that this department has undertaken are very constructive in terms of dialoguing with the communities and trying to take an opportunity of the tourism industry, but inevitably there could be the unintentional disparities between the concentration of resources say in Yellowknife, other regions, or the communities. So I'm just trying to understand.

The Minister had indicated at least the total amount for tourism and parks is $5.5 million. Is there an understanding of how much...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Specifically the question I was asking is: what is the total of the number of territorial parks that we have? I understand territorial parks would mean we have day-use areas, we have campgrounds. For example, in the Deh Cho riding we have Twin Falls and parks and then we have Lady Evelyn Falls campgrounds and then we have on the Kakisa River we have a day-use area. So I just wanted to know how many of those facilities that we have across the NWT? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The other part of this question is on page 207. It makes reference to the Mackenzie Valley development contribution, which is essentially non-existent anymore, but it also makes reference to the Aboriginal Pipeline Group. Does this department or this government have an obligation in terms of ensuring that the APG in terms of their relationship with the GNWT is maintained, if there is a relationship? Mahsi.