Debates of October 26, 2006 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, the person in the area, the tourism officer, is responsible currently for that Dodo Park. Mr. Chairman, I would say that we think there's additional workload coming up here in the future with the transfer of that land, and I think we, in speaking with the committee, envision the hiring of an additional officer in that region because we think that there will be the work. We're some ways away from that now, but we're working with the committee on that. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Anything further, Mr. Yakeleya?

Yes, Mr. Chairman. In terms of the tourism officer again and hiring on the additional worker in the area of the management of the park area that I hope we will see something shortly in the Sahtu region in terms of someone in our own backyard so we have that type of training, benefit. I have a person in my mind right now. Because we can't name names here, I'm going to keep it with myself and I'll send a note over to the Minister. Thanks again, Mr. Chairman, for your leniency in terms of committee's rules here. I'm going to ask the Minister when we can expect a designated person that would help out, because our Sahtu region is about 120,000 square miles, big land, lots of cover. I think his department has done a wonderful job in terms of supporting the Canol Trail in terms of that becoming a world-class tourism area, so I want to continue his support with his staff and give all my support to headquarters to continue on that initiative here. It's a real gem in all the work that we have done in the Sahtu region. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree that it is a gem, and we have felt for some time that we hadn't done enough work there in order to make this park a reality, and that's why we've stepped up the efforts here. I appreciate the support of the Member. We have asked the committee to identify some candidates for us. I can certainly tell the Member that I envision the successful candidate I certainly hope will be a beneficiary who knows the area well. I think that's in everybody's best interest, so that's what we're aiming for. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Anything further, Mr. Yakeleya?

Mr. Chair, the tourism officer's position, this one here is going to be key in many successes of tourism in the North here and I hope that some of the work that's going to be looked at is the importance of hooking up with key leadership, key people in the region, looking at the significance and the cultural, spiritual area of our land, and really getting a good sense of it. I think some of it we had this summer in terms of walking the 54 miles this summer, that we had a real good sense of the cultural, the spiritual component of people in the Sahtu, and the youth really appreciated that trail and the significance of our elders in terms of how they use that portion of the land. I know, Mr. Bell, I think you may be looking forward to the trip next year and getting a taste of it, as an earlier commitment has been made in the House here. But I think a tourism officer is going to be a real key person, and I hope we provide as much support as possible in this area here because it's going to be a key…I'm losing my train of thought here, so I'm going to leave it at that, Mr. Chair, and continue on with the bill. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. I didn't hear a question there. I'm going to move now to Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want a clarification regarding appointment of a tourism officer. Will they be employees of ITI, or can you just take somebody off the street and appoint them as a tourism officer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Minister Bell.

Mr. Chairman, the people exist and are employed by the government currently, so there is a tourism officer in the Inuvik region, a very good one. One with a lot of experience and one who we've used in a number of other roles to help train other officers and help do a lot of work in tourism for us as a government. He was very much involved in our Expo work in Japan. So you're very well served in that region. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Back to clause by clause. We are on clause 16, committee.

Agreed.

Clause 17.

Agreed.

Clause 18.

Agreed.

Page 10, clause 19.

Agreed.

Clause 20.

Agreed.

Offence and punishment, clause 21.

Agreed.

Page 11, clause 22.

Agreed.

Clause 23.

Agreed.

Clause 24.

Agreed.

Clause 25.

Agreed.

Regulations, clause 26.

Agreed.

Page 13, transitional, clause 27.

Agreed.

Clause 28.

Agreed.

Page 14, consequential amendments, clause 29.

Agreed.

Repeal, clause 30.

Agreed.

Commencement, clause 31.

Agreed.

To the bill as a whole.

Agreed.

Thank you. Does the committee agree that Bill 11 is ready for third reading?

Agreed.

Thank you, committee. Bill 11 is now ready for third reading. Mahsi. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Thank you, Mr. Doan and Ms. Veinott, for being with us here this afternoon; much appreciated. Now I'll ask what is the will of committee? Thank you, committee. Committee had previously agreed to go with Bill 7. Is that still the will of committee?

Agreed.

Agreed, okay. Thank you, committee. We will now proceed with Bill 7. Mr. Roland.