Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my Member's statement on strategies, my first question to the Minister of ITI is: how do you think a new manufacturing strategy could help better the territory's manufacturing industry? Mahsi.
Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The manufacturing strategy that we tabled gives us an opportunity, I think, to reimagine how we approach supporting manufacturing in the Northwest Territories. It is an opportunity for us to possibly rethink how we re-categorize manufacturers and look at new policy ideas that could help bring more businesses to the manufacturers in the NWT and local manufacturers as well, but also use it to build a stronger relationship with the manufacturing community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thanks to the Minister for the answer. Often, when manufacturing is on the agenda, we are talking about Hay River, Fort Smith, and Yellowknife. My next question is: are we going to see some benefits for the rest of the NWT? Maybe a dry dock in the community of Norman Wells?
Yes, we are absolutely looking how we can expand the manufacturing sector across the Northwest Territories. In fact, our team was recently in Norman Wells as of a couple days ago engaging with stakeholders and residents in the community to hear what we need to build a dry manufacturing in the Sahtu and what is possible there and what kind of ideas are brought forward. We will be doing this across every region in the Northwest Territories.
Will the Minister provide that information on engagement to the sessions that happened in Norman Wells?
I can certainly talk to the department and see whether we can release publicly to the Member.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question to the Minister is: why do you think manufacturing is an important area to spend time and resources on, given its small part or contribution to our overall economy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Manufacturing is a relatively small part of our economy in the Northwest Territories, but it is a very important one, I believe, particularly with the background that I have. It has high potential. The stats that I have been receiving from the department is, for every million dollars of output from a manufacturer in NWT, it creates more jobs, and these jobs are well-paid jobs compared to other industries in the Northwest Territories.
So we think it is of great importance, and a good use of our time and resources, to look at how we can support the diversification of our economy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
