Mr. Speaker, residents of the NWT have told us they want to advance food production in their regions and communities. With the support of federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories funding, community-based gardens, greenhouses, farmer’s markets, and other food-related businesses and associations are flourishing across the NWT.

Access to locally grown, locally sourced foods continues to increase for residents of the NWT. Small-scale entrepreneurial opportunities are becoming available through markets, festivals, and conferences.

While a few commercial food production...

As I said, we'll have to look into the Highway Traffic Act and, whatever signage is required to have with a lighting system that crosses the public highway, we will install it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I remember correctly, I said earlier today that I would look at putting some kind of lighting up there. So I will look into and get back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Like anything, we would have to look at the costs of this, and we would have to probably engage with the federal government, what they could contribute toward this program. As I have said, Aboriginal governments in other jurisdictions across the country are looking at how they can possibly implement this. I believe the Member from Tu NedheWiilideh has brought this up before. It is a program that has been used in Australia, if I remember. We would have to follow up with what I have mentioned.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister of ITI, I am aware of it only because I used to be the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Laughter

I can't speak on behalf of the Minister of ENR, but I know the department is probably supportive of this program. Well, there is a new Minister. I would probably ask the Member that he is going to have to direct his questions to ENR on this program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The short answer is yes. Those are the sorts of things that we will be looking at doing when we pull out this energy strategy and climate change strategic framework.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The report is being used along with input from other stakeholders across the Northwest Territories. We will take that report and use it for input for our energy strategy and development for what we need to bring forward for the Northwest Territories to get off of diesel in the long term. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As the Member is well aware, there is a ton of signage at this crosswalk. As is stated, there is lighting along the side of the highway. I am not trying to water down this request, but I will have to look into what we can do to put some kind of flashing light there in the meantime.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the fall of 2016, on this particular crosswalk, we had an RFP out and we had a low bid that came in well over budget of what was anticipated as the cost of installing this stuff. We are reviewing that right now, how we are going to move it forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Aboriginal tourism is a great initiative that ITI has put forward. We will continue to work with anyone who accesses this program. There are a couple of initiatives there for community governments to access that. As I have said, the Department of ITI will continue to work with everybody, be it Aboriginal tourism, communities, Aboriginal governments, residents of the Northwest Territories, on how we can enhance and use our parks to the best benefit to the residents of the Northwest Territories and all the visitors that come here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.