Mr. Speaker, one of the goals of the 16th Legislative Assembly was to create a diverse economy that provides all Northwest Territories communities and residents with opportunities and choices. Today I am pleased to highlight how the Northwest Territories tourism industry has helped us to achieve this goal.
Tourism 2010 was the Government of the Northwest Territories tourism investment plan. Under this plan the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment provided $1 million annually towards the tourism industry. We were also successful in leveraging an additional $5.3 million in additional investments from the federal government, industry, and other partners. Building off the success of Tourism 2010, this government approved funding for Tourism 2015: New Directions for a Spectacular Future, a new five-year plan that will guide investment over the next several years.
In response to the market’s growing demand for authentic Aboriginal tourism experiences, I appointed seven members to a newly formed Aboriginal Tourism Champions Advisory Council earlier this summer. The following individuals have been appointed to the nine-seat council:
Mr. Grant Beck, Yellowknife;
Mr. Knute Hansen, Fort McPherson;
Mr. Doug Lamalice, Hay River;
Ms. Ria Letcher, Fort Simpson;
Ms. Margaret Nazon, Tsiigehtchic;
Mr. Moise Rabesca, Behchoko;
Ms. Judith Wright-Bird, Tulita.
The council will also include a representative from Northwest Territories Tourism, Ms. Jenni Bruce and Ms. Kelly Kaylo of Yellowknife in her capacity as co-chair of the Tourism Marketing Advisory Committee.
The council will promote and champion sustainable development of Aboriginal tourism in a manner that is respectful and appropriate.
Another major success in attracting people to the Northwest Territories and creating world-class tourism products is the Tourism Product and Marketing Diversification Program. Over the last five years 50 businesses received $5.6 million from this program for 117 projects. In addition, the Government of the Northwest Territories provided $300,000 in targeted support for barren-ground caribou and polar bear outfitters in 2009-2010, and doubled that investment to $600,000 for 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.
Mr. Speaker, 2011 has certainly been a “royal” summer. We had the pleasure of visits from Prince Andrew and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine. Those royal visits focused the spotlight of international attention on the Northwest Territories.
The Northwest Territories is no stranger to international attention, much of which was generated through Canada’s Northern House at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. This collaboration between the three territories laid the groundwork for a pan-territorial marketing campaign to market Canada’s North to southern Canada. Called simply, “Canada’s North,” this marketing campaign launched in March 2011 and will promote the North to southern Canadians as a travel destination.
Mr. Speaker, an important aspect of marketing our territory’s tourism industry is our extensive territorial parks system. Our parks host approximately 25,000 campers annually. Over the past four years we have made many investments to maintain and improve infrastructure to serve our guests.
Our new visitors centre at the 60th parallel opened this past June. We have also added new shower facilities in our North Slave parks and invested in new trails, viewing platforms and other park infrastructure throughout the Northwest Territories to improve the guest experience.
Aurora tourism is also one of the hallmarks of our tourism industry, and our aurora viewing numbers have steadily increased.
This government can be proud of the work that has been accomplished for tourism and the support provided to the industry by the 16th Legislative Assembly. The tourism industry is growing because of that support and our tourism operators, as we work in partnership to increase diversity and increase our presence abroad. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
