Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I would. I am pleased to present the 2019-2020 Main Estimates for Industry, Tourism and Investment. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $2.9 million or 5 percent over the 2018-2019 Main Estimates.

The estimates include several funding increases to support departmental priorities.

An increase in funding for tourism marketing is proposed to help our highest potential renewable-resource industry continue its growth. Also included is additional funding for parks operations to support their role in this growth while providing high-quality facilities...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member makes it sound like we are in dire straits here in procured shared services, and that is clearly not the case. He and I have argued this on the floor of the House a number of times. The department is working on stuff. We made improvements to the RFP evaluation process. We do mandatory customer service training and fairness advisory training with all of our staff. There are a number of things that we continue to work on, and we continue to evaluate on procured shared services moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you look at the new mineral claims that have taken place in the Northwest Territories since 2015-2016 in particular and forward, the growth has been 165 percent, 175 percent, so, as a result of this increase in mineral activity registration transaction plan inquiries, there is a need to ensure that industry clients receive timely approvals of their claims, work-report filings, related transactions, necessary device, and support for their regulatory requirements related to mineral tender and management that is administered by the mining recorder's office are met. The...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That will be this fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I guess the one thing I would like to add to that is one thing that we did in this government, too, is we added a whole new region in the Northwest Territories and in the Sahtu, which, you know, there was some strong support from the Member from the Sahtu region to make them their own region. I think, as we are moved forward with five strong regions, the regional support has just gotten better by doing that, as well. That is just an extra comment I wanted to add. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's the answer that Ms. Salvador just gave him. There were contributions for 2017-2018 in order to promote the Northwest Territories and all those number of initiatives that were mentioned by the Director of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, it does, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left is director of Corporate Services, Vince McCormick, of Infrastructure. On my right is Paul Guy, deputy minister of Infrastructure. On my far right is Jaylene Robertson, assistant deputy minister of Regional Operations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ever since I got this file, the film industry has moved a long way. We've done a number of things working with the film Commission and moving the Western Arctic Movie Pictures and NWT Professional Media Association along. We continue to promote them alongside them. As I've said, we've offered this new officer to help them promote the industry in the Northwest Territories. Last year, at their first annual gala, we supported a new apprenticeship program for its members, which was greatly appreciated by the industry. The feedback that I've got from them to help them grow the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Presently, we are working with our own forces internally with the design on this thing. We are working closely with ITI on it, as well. When it comes time to build this, we will be coming forward with appropriate appropriations to build that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.