Wally Schumann

Yes, we can have a look at it. I know that the department does community-based tannery workshops, and we will continue to do that across the Northwest Territories, but if the Member has any ideas around some home tanning kits ideas, I would gladly sit down and discuss it with them.

I know there is ongoing work on Buffalo River bridge and the Hay River bridge moving forward on the bundles that we have allocated the money to. The specifics around Little Buffalo River bridge, I will have to get the details on that and see if there is any planned work on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I do not have that type of detail with me. I know I have a budget for chipsealing across the Northwest Territories, and we continue to move that forward through our various bundles. I will get that information for the Member, when he can expect to have that highway completely chipsealed.

Mr. Speaker, our government made a commitment in its mandate to supporting mineral exploration and the mining sector through a number of actions that I want to update Members on. Our government recognizes the need for a strong, diverse economy where all NWT residents have a chance to get ahead.

The foundation of our economy is socially and environmentally responsible resource development. The Northwest Territories' abundant natural resources are not only key to growing and sustaining our economic future, but are also essential to lowering the cost of living, as well as developing training...

A five-year review was put on that, and the Premier has asked the federal government to try to advance that. That is where that is at right now presently. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I have said, through devolution, a number of pieces of legislation that are coming forward actually impact the mineral resources. It is not just the Mineral Resources Act. There is the Mackenzie Valley Resource Act. There is the Lands and Water Act, carbon price, and all of these sorts of things. All of these have to work in sync together to make sure they are not conflicting with each other.

The challenge, I guess, around the Mackenzie Valley Resource Act is it is still under federal legislation. I believe the Premier has had conversations with the Prime Minister about bringing that within...

This isn't about just cutting up the pie to make it equal for everybody in the Northwest Territories. Tourism is a growing market in the Northwest Territories; we're using it as one of the main factors of diversifying our economy.

We have spent money all over the place trying to support the industry, not just in Yellowknife, which gets a significant amount of visitors. We are trying to spread it out across the territory to make our great land more accessible and more enjoyable for all tourism participants who come to the NWT.

We have community tourism coordinators, Aboriginal tourism, a...

I can tell the Member that we are continuing with the support that we gave the Northern Frontier Visitors' Centre. The same allocation is going to the City of Yellowknife in the interim moving forward, so whatever funding was not used up by the Northern Frontier Visitors' Centre in this fiscal year, the remaining amount will be going to the City of Yellowknife.

I believe I have been quoted in this House saying that we would go back in front of committee after our sailing season to update committee and all Members of this House of all the challenges and successes that we have had in the sailing season. I believe, for the most part, we have had a great season to be able to accomplish what we have done to service the communities and keep down the cost of living and get the commodities and products to these communities to give them more certainty moving forward. I look forward to updating the committee on the operations going forward and the lessons...

I don't have that type of detail here with me, but I can certainly get hold of the department and get back to him. As I said, I think we have one more boat that is sailing this year, and I suspect that anything that was delayed for those two communities will be on there, but I will follow up with that.