Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today will be for the Minister of ITI. Minister Ramsay spoke to us the other day in the House, tabling a statement regarding a new website that they’re designing for the newly formed media association to hopefully entice the film industry. As good as it is, it’s a great tool. I’m not going to deny that. I’ve had the pleasure of talking to some of the fine folks at Buffalo Air who really have minted a unique niche market in the film industry and I think we’re all duly proud of what they’ve done for the Northwest Territories, not just on a national but a global basis. Can the Minister of ITI indicate to me what has been done by this government to help support a very established international market creator such as Ice Pilots and what has this government done to foster that positive behaviour? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had the original Ice Road Trucker, Alex Debogorski, a constituent of mine, at my constituency meeting not too long ago. This was a discussion that came up, how the government could utilize a show like Ice Road Truckers or Ice Pilots NWT and market the territory internationally. That is something I’m certainly interested in. I’m interested in seeing us advance.
I know in the past we’ve had Mikey McBryan down at the Northern House in Vancouver during the Olympics. There are opportunities for us to showcase folks that are involved in the film and television industry. At every opportunity we can do that, we should be doing that. I think they are great ambassadors for the North. We have been fortunate with shows like Ice Road Truckers, Ice Pilots NWT and also Licence to Drill. If you look at a fiction drama series, Arctic Air, that has also put the Northwest Territories squarely on the map.
Certainly the website that I spoke about earlier this week is going to give people an opportunity to see what services are available to the film industry here in the Northwest Territories. It’s something, I must say, we’ve seen a great increase in the number of inquiries to our film commissioner here in the Northwest Territories because of the advance of shows like Ice Road Truckers and Ice Pilots NWT. Thank you.
I agree. I mean, we’re very proud of all the work that’s been done in the North with many of our colleagues and the film industry. The film industry is a wave; it’s a wave you have to ride on and we don’t have to look too far to the south of us in Saskatchewan. They had some great run-ons for years. Unfortunately, in Saskatchewan the film industry has dried up only because the government of the day didn’t react in time. The film industry is very nomadic in nature and if you don’t ride the wave properly, you miss your opportunity.
Again, my question to the Minister is: What other steps such as tax incentives, opportunities for business diversification and proper training in telecommunications or arts can allow us to be a leader and also keep this wave as long we can? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We certainly need to keep an eye on what other jurisdictions are doing, such as the Yukon. Going forward, we need to look at ways we can be competitive, and I agree with the Member, it’s a competitive environment out there. We need to have services, rebate programs and incentives for the film industry to come here to film so that people who live in the Northwest Territories can get the jobs and the experience that filming will give them here in the Northwest Territories. We are looking at every opportunity.
Again, I know in that industry things are fickle and we will continue to put our best effort forward. We have identified a dedicated employee at ITI to handle the inquiries. We are doing our best to try to maintain that momentum that we’ve got and advance any opportunity that we have going forward. Thank you.
Again, I’m encouraged by the enthusiasm of the Minister but this does require more than just the need or desire. This requires strategic framework. It requires a plan of action to keep this wave alive. I didn’t hear that in the Minister’s delivery here today. Would the Minister commit to put some type of strategy or framework strategy around our film and production industry so that we can keep this wave as long as we can in the North and be proud of the film industry that is created today?
ITI works very closely with my colleague the Minister of ECE in partnership to address gaps and explore ways to best support the film industry here in the Northwest Territories. We’re looking as we move forward at a joint annual report that will be produced jointly between ITI and ECE to identify new initiatives and progress made in the last previous year with regard to the film industry. We are working toward that. I do appreciate the Member’s concern and I do believe we are doing something about that.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree that annual reports are great, but annual reports tell you what you’ve done. I’m asking what you’re going to do. Can the Minister indicate if we have something we can do to protect the industry while we have it in our fingertips?
The Northwest Territories Film Commission has drafted a mandate that is supported by both ITI and ECE and I’d be more than happy to share that mandate with the Member. Also, as we go forward, I agree with the Member, if a strategic framework or strategy is required that is something we will need to consider.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
