Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll redirect that to the deputy minister. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. From my understanding, the $160,000 is going to be hard to spend, the way things are looking right now. As we move forward, as the industry grows and picks up and diversifies the economy and brings bigger production films to the Northwest Territories, just like anything else, we will have to review it and see if we need to put more money into it. Right now, we are comfortable with that amount. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's correct. It would be serviced out of the Hay River office.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The reason it is in Yellowknife is because it is looking after the Northwest Territories as a whole. It is a panterritorial position, so that position is located here to do that stuff. As the Member alluded to, we talked about it in the House, the position is going to be getting reprofiled in Hay River to look after the fishery and agriculture strategy, and they also have the full support of the superintendent of ITI in this House, who also works on all these files and helps direct some of that stuff. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, this is another program that we believe is important to diversifying our economy in the Northwest Territories. Last year, over $2 million in direct revenues was realized through the traditional economy. Over $1 million was paid to NWT trappers last year in revenues and advances and grubstakes under the Mackenzie Valley Fur Program. Over $200,000 was paid out to traditional artists last year, generating an estimated $900,000 in product sales. So we believe it is a great program, and we will continue to support that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The answer is no, we're not at this present time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, I think I want to get right into it. It sounds like they have got a number of questions, so let's do it.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

With SEED, I already have the authority to go over $15,000, so if something came forward and there was an initiative that I believe we can support, the Minister can sign off and go above the $15,000.

Just back to the Member's earlier question, though, about sectors, if you actually go into the grants and contributions, in there on page 12, it also breaks it out by activity. It has all the sectors, I believe, that he was trying to get to. It has agriculture, arts and crafts, business conferences, ecommerce, education. All these sorts of things are broken out by percentages and amount of money...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll try to respond to all five of them, I believe. As I've said, SEED, we're having a look at it. My concern was when I got the portfolios, are we making the best bang for our buck, and I will not commit to a review right at this point. I'm going to have a look at it for sure, and if there's a need for it we will definitely be having a look at that, but I'm paying close attention on how we're spending SEED for sure and getting value for our money.

The fishing industry, as you know, we're going to table our strategy moving forward. I think the amount of money that we...