Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ITI continues to advance initiatives and investments in supporting the NWT film sector. As of recently, they just had a gala year with their new release of the Midnight Sun feature, which I suspect a number of Members in the Assembly have attended, hopefully. I was out of town so I couldn't make it, but kudos go out to them on that. We will continue to work with them on any initiatives and marketing stuff forward to help this industry grow in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This would be something that we'd have to take up with the City of Yellowknife, as signage is not all the responsibility of all of the Northwest Territories. If the city would like to have a meeting for signage for the Tourist and Information Centre, we can work closely with them and arrange to have something put in place.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there has been construction completed recently just outside the Legislative Assembly and the department has worked with the City of Yellowknife on this project as well as the developer of Nova, and an unofficial group of representatives of the Niven Lake Community, Ecology North, and a former MLA. They've all agreed that we need to provide an active transportation corridor from the Niven Lake area and access the downtown area. The city continues to hold the leading role in developing this overall city wide footprint on this issue, and we will continue to meet with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my previous life I was actually a member of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, so I do know a little bit about them. In the early days of being the Minister of ITI I have not been contacted by them and I have not been aware of the score card as of recently, but I'd be willing to sit down and have a conversation with the federation at any time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As this is early days in my portfolio, I will be reviewing all available capital that's available to all people of the Northwest Territories, and I'm sure, if there's a need to either lower it or raise it, I will make sure I inform this House.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have just been newly appointed to this portfolio and been a small business owner myself previous to coming to the Assembly, I will work diligently to ensure that all small business opportunities there are available in all the communities in the Northwest Territories and to all entrepreneurs that are thinking of going into small business in the Northwest Territories have the opportunity to move forward in a manner that will best benefit residents of the Northwest Territories and the communities, and we will ensure to help them the best we can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker...

During consultation, like I said, we talked to the band and the municipality regarding the management of these grave sites. I'm not quite sure if we've talked to the Metis or if the municipality has, but I can assure the Member I'll follow up on that and make sure the Metis are included in the conversation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This is something that is very near and dear to my heart, as I am from Hay River and it's very important to the local industry of Hay River and the Northwest Territories. I can reassure the Member that I will be working very closely with the Tlicho business and the Fishing Federation and all people and fishers of the Northwest Territories on how we're going to move this process forward to make sure we bring a viable industry that is beneficial to all Northerners and to reach out to industry and people across the great globe of the world, basically, to see what kind of fresh fish we have here...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I've already stated, that we've met with a number of user groups on this whole issue and the department has already suggested, with the city and Ecology North and other people that are related to this issue, is that we would like to have a meeting moving forward on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I've said, we've worked closely with various groups on this. The developers actually paid for the improvements that were made on this section of highway this year, as it become on him that he would pay for this. We will continue to work with the City of Yellowknife and all user groups. That's the best way forward with this.