Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I've said, we are just starting the early days of working on the geothermal energy status in the Northwest Territories. As we move forward and get a little more information on how we're going to move this forward and along with legislation, I'm sure we're going to have to look at how we're going to acquire some funding and how we can move this initiative forward as a possible development in future economic development in the Northwest Territories that benefits all residents.

This is early days, so I suspect at some point, no different than our energy strategy, there's...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is part of it is here and part of it is under MPR, so it's in both sections. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I said in my earlier comments, we are working with not just Lands, but we are working with Health and Social Services and ENR on this whole issue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We went to them and asked them what they can do to help offset our reductions, and they came forward with what they think would work. They believe, as I said already, that they can carry out their programs and meet the objections of the BDIC for the people of the Northwest Territories for economic development. That is what we have brought forward, and we stand behind it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's not a new agricultural division per se. When you look at -- as the Member asked -- when he first did his opening comments on page 190 is how we've divided up the department. If you look on page 190 there's a director of economic diversification on the bottom of that page. That person is going to look after agriculture, commercial fisheries, arts, fine crafts, hide procurement program, and marketing and promotion of the Mackenzie Valley fur, as well. So that's been separated out of the diamond division stuff. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As the Member knows, this was something that I was working on before I got elected, and it is definitely not something I am going to drop the ball on as the Minister of ITI. We continued to work with the manufacturing strategy as recently as when I was home lately. I brought up the conversation with some of the Members who are on the Manufacturers' Association, and when are they going to try to pull together another meeting and get things moving on their side of things. We are supporting a development of marketing and promoting of them. That is what the department has...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I have said, we are doing a review of this right now. We are having a look at it internally. I have directed the department to see, like I said, best value for money and if we are targeting the right stuff. If something comes forward that is a red flag for us, we will definitely be sharing it with committee and deciding what we are going to do moving forward and if we are going to do a fullblown review. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, as I said earlier, this is one of the reductions that we've asked the department to take. They're fully aware of our ask and they told us that they could move forward without any implications on their funding or supports for small business in the Northwest Territories. So it's part of our budget reduction for the department, and we've asked them to basically take a haircut and they said they can do it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we said we were going to try to look after this internally, this initiative, but we also have the growing forward money going forward with that and we also have the Northern Food Development, which I believe has $550,000 in it, too, as well, to try to this move this initiative forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we have said, we have talked about it in the House a number of times on how we are going to bring LPs forward. We believe that we can get the job done within the life of this Legislative Assembly, and we have a number of initiatives that are coming forward as the Member has said in his opening comments, and we will be bringing those forward in a timely manner; and we believe we will be able to do that in the length of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.