R.J. Simpson

I am glad to hear that agriculture is sprouting out to all over the territory. I guess my issue is that I have seen that fish plant sitting in Hay River, no work being done to it for decades, and its industry sort of floating along there. Things are moving now, but I cannot help but think that if the person who is responsible for driving the sector had to drive by that fish plant every day, things might move a little faster. Will the Minister at least commit to looking into the idea of moving this? Can he commit to exploring the benefits that might come out of having this positon in Hay River?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A couple of times now I've asked the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment about why the position manager of traditional economy, agriculture, and fisheries is located in Yellowknife as opposed to the centre of agriculture and fisheries which is Hay River. The position manages two employees. One is supposed to be positioned in Hay River. The role of this position is to set the direction for the sectors, design and deliver strategies, develop the terms of reference. It is centred on developing these sectors as future industries and opportunities in the territory.

N...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's comments. I'd love to see that there is agriculture throughout the territory. There is commercial fishing growing throughout the territory, but if it is so important to have the position in Yellowknife because this is pan-territorial, how come the superintendent from the South Slave is going up to the Beaufort Delta to look into the fish plant? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I also mentioned, I believe 1.2 million pounds of fish were caught in the South Slave, brought to the fish plant in Hay River. I think 68,000 pounds were caught in the North Slave, and I think 10,000 up in the Mackenzie Delta. Clearly, the vast majority of work is in Hay River. There is an agriculture strategy, which the most employment and industry is going to be created in Hay River. Same with the fishery strategy. When the Minister says "pan-territorial," everything I am saying, it seems to be in the South. The only thing that I can think of that is really pan-territorial is these...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recently Yellowknife Tourism announced that they were giving away 150 trips to the Northwest Territories. Excuse me, Mr. Speaker, I misspoke. NWT Tourism announced that it was giving away 150 trips to Yellowknife; well, 93 per cent of them to Yellowknife, anyways.

In a way, it is almost hard to blame them. If I wanted to fly return from Hay River to Edmonton next week, it would cost around $1,400. It would cost half that if I was to fly out of Yellowknife. If I book a couple weeks in advance, a return flight to Edmonton from Yellowknife is a third the cost...

Next I have Mr. O'Reilly, I believe.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand the position is panterritorial. Take, for example, fishing. I believe 1.3 million pounds came out of the South Slave, was brought to the fish plant in Hay River. I think 10,000 or 16,000 pounds came out of the North Slave and 10,000 came out from up in the Beaufort. So when you have 90some per cent of the production happening in a certain area, why won't you focus efforts in that area, especially when it is such a promising one?

I see my time is up, but that is just maybe something to think about, and that is something I will come back to over and over again...

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.