Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions today for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and it’s kind of following up on questions that I asked the Minister of Transportation in terms of subsidizing some of our small business.
Obviously, it is Small Business Week here in the Northwest Territories. I’d just like to ask the Minister, does the department subsidize any costs specifically due to the low water levels that we had on the Mackenzie River this summer? Is there any subsidy for the small businesses who might have been delayed in doing their contracts, getting work done, because they didn’t get the supplies that they needed, or is there any subsidy for any of these products that might have been spoiled or ruined because they couldn’t get up the river in time?
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the best of my knowledge, I am not aware of any subsidy programs for businesses as it relates to low water levels on the Mackenzie River and the shipment of goods into the Mackenzie Delta.
It was very unfortunate that NTCL couldn’t make one of their last trips of the Mackenzie and provide all these goods and products to the small businesses and to the communities.
In terms of the small businesses in the community of Inuvik, are there any subsidies available for businesses where the products can’t get across the Mackenzie River and the business has to fly it in? Are there any subsidies to offset those flying costs for some of these small businesses in Inuvik?
I think businesses and transportation companies would carry the requisite insurance in the case that goods were spoiled or couldn’t make it there. I know in previous experience when we didn’t have a bridge across the Mackenzie River and we were in business here in Yellowknife, flying goods in was at the expense of the business. There weren’t subsidies in place to defer that cost. Businesses just had to endure those extra costs for the short period of time where there wasn’t the access that was there before.
Our small businesses provide an integral part into our communities and our economy, and the Minister did mention that in his statement.
With some of the things that are happening within the territory and with the weather and some of our infrastructure that we’re creating and causing some delays and challenges to get products to the communities, would the Minister look at some kind of subsidy for small business that has to endure some of these extra costs when such things happen such as low water levels, the road closures or ferries not operating on the basis that we’re telling them that they’re supposed to be operating? Would the Minister look at creating some type of subsidy for the small businesses?
This is the first time the question has been brought to me in this venue. It is something that I can take back. I think there are a couple of other departments that we should consult with, and certainly, we could have a look at it. That’s not to say it will happen, but it’s something that I think we can look at.
