Debates of March 31, 2004 (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. David Ramsay on March 29, 2004, regarding government investment into the northern manufacturing industry over the last 10 years.

The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has a number of programs that support manufacturing in the NWT. The business development fund provides contributions to a variety of businesses for a wide range of needs. The BDF contributions, plus additional Ministers' contributions, in the amount of almost $4 million have been provided since 1995 to businesses falling within the manufacturing category. Contribution tracking delineated sectors beginning in 1995. The range of businesses with this category is from individual arts and crafts producers to large businesses.

The NWT Business Credit Corporation provides loans to NWT businesses. Loans in the amount of $5.255 million were provided to manufacturing businesses since 1998, the first year that sector distinctions were made in BCC annual reports.

In addition to these programs, RWED has assisted both the Northern Manufacturers' Association and a Business Advisory Panel. The Business Advisory Panel was established to undertake a review and make recommendations on supporting the manufacturing sector in the NWT. Total assistance for these groups was approximately $164,000. The Northern Manufacturers' Association has been inactive since 2003.

The GNWT has also supported the manufacturing sector in other ways. Total purchases by the NWT Housing Corporation from northern manufacturers from 1993 to 2003-04 were $18.755 million.

With the development of diamond mines, the GNWT lobbied extensively for value-added processing in the NWT. That lobbying effort was backed up by the provision of loan guarantees to attract diamond cutting and polishing facilities to the North. These guarantees amount to $19.8 million.

In summary, this total investment in manufacturing amounts to just over $48 million. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, I am in receipt of two returns to written questions. The first one is a written question asked to the Premier by Mr. Braden on March 22, 2004, regarding land and resources devolution negotiations.