Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the parks being announced to be open this weekend, can we ensure that residents can still go to the campground in my community and around my community without having to use the online system of securing the site? I don't think I've ever recalled anyone, ever, using the site outside of, especially at Gwich'in campground, kilometre 240, and Caribou Creek, which is at kilometre 221. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have just recently been aware that not everybody in the territory likes to use the online system. It was just recently brought to my attention that, perhaps in Inuvik and around that region, people aren't using the system. I've raised this already with the department now, and we will look into how do we accommodate those that don't want to use the online system. I will say, no, your park will not be closed this weekend just because the online system may not be utilized properly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Minister. We're going to have some happy campers this weekend. Since we've been going on this discussion, we're learning that tourists may come in and they may be staying in our isolation centres. We don't know who is paying for it. Can the Minister commit to waiving all fees associated with the use of our campgrounds for our NWT residents as part of our opening our parks for the season since we are encouraged to have vacations?
That sort of decision would actually have to come to the financial management board as, surprisingly, we do collect a significant amount of fees from the parks. I do want to state that it's my understanding that the fees are not super high, perhaps about $15 for a tent platform. I believe the highest price is $32 for Fred Hennie at a powered site, but I can commit to getting the exact numbers on those. What we have done is we are doing a "buy five nights, get your sixth night free coupon." When you register on the online system -- which I'm assuming I'm going to have to adapt to Inuvik. However, we are promoting and giving an extra night free for the next time that people would book on the system. I have asked the department to look into how can we accommodate lower income residents in order to enjoy the parks. Perhaps, we could work with NGOs to identify families who would like to go camping. I commit to coming back to the Member. While I can't waive the fees at this moment and just say yes, I was looking at options so that we can help those who maybe can't afford to use our parks to better access them.
Just to the Minister's comments, the five nights, most of the people in my region, in my community, who go out camping, go out camping Friday night, Saturday night, and come home Sunday because a majority of them are out on the weekend to camp. That system will not benefit, and we don't have a very long camping season, as I mentioned. With the number of campers that we have in our region, would the Minister commit to waiving the fees in the Inuvik region, or the supplies, the wood, whatever that they can actually give to the campers since they want to stay and they want to camp?
If I waive the fees for only the Member's region, I will have the other Members coming to me to ask for the same thing. I already have another Member who is actively pursuing the waiving of fees, as well, so I can't show preference. I will take that away and have a conversation with the department. I did just want to clarify that the gatehouse at the Inuvik parks will be manned this weekend, and they will take cash.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that we seem to have media and everything who jump the gun, but I'd really like the department to get on top of it in my community and get some advertising out locally. There are local people who do a lot of local advertising, just so that they are aware that they need to bring the money and that they can go camping. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I commit to the Member to doing an Inuvik or Beaufort Delta specific release with information regarding the differences with the online system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
