Debates of October 14, 2005 (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my questions will be for the Minister of ITI, and it’s in regards to a "buy northern" program. This government spends a lot of money on northern-based industries to support them, and I applaud them for such efforts. They put a lot of efforts into the arts and crafts and even the secondary diamond industry. Even the local Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, to their specific credit, promotes "buy local" to help support local businesses that continue to give back to the communities. So when I look at northern manufacturers, I think of such companies as Arctic Wild Harvest; we have the tea lady; we have Energy Wall Trusses, and we even have the Fort McPherson canvas bags. So what are we doing to promote these? My question to the Minister of ITI is, what are we doing to create a program to make a made-in-the-NWT program to help build a little pride in northern awareness so we can buy and shop local? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have, for some time, been without an NWT manufacturing strategy, and it’s been something that we’ve discussed and wanted to move forward on. I’ve asked the department and the BDIC, the newly created BDIC, as part of the terms of reference for the program and service review they have embarked on, to also consider what we might do and what kind of support we might better provide to the manufacturing sector. It is difficult. There are many hurdles in order to have a viable manufacturing sector. We’re very distant from markets. The cost of inputs, labour and utilities, is higher in the North than it is in the South, but that’s not to say that we can’t have a strong and viable manufacturing sector. So this is something that I’ve asked the BDIC and our department to look at and consider as they go forward with this program service review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the honourable Member for mentioning that we don’t have a strategy. That’s something I’d like to see us work on and maybe see if we can get a commitment from the Minister, in the long run, to do that. But I don’t think a northern strategy necessarily has to be where we have to start. It could be where we’re going. I believe very strongly that the northern manufacturers need to be supported and this government needs to get behind them. I’ll speak to something that’s probably near and dear to the Speaker’s heart, which is that I bought windows from Arctic Front out of Hay River, and I was exceptionally satisfied and promoted them to several people in Yellowknife who bought them. So these northern manufacturers are producing great quality products in our North, and I think it’s imperative that we go the extra mile. So would the Minister consider something along the lines of a logo identification program? It could be something as simple as little stickers that said it was made in the NWT, just like the U.S.A. did a few years ago when they showed everyone their labels, “Made in the U.S.A.” So would the Minister look at maybe making something simple like a “Made in the NWT” logo to help build that pride? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is something that’s come up in my recent consultations with chambers of commerce across the Northwest Territories. We had some discussion around such an initiative in Fort Smith, I believe. It is something we’d like to look at. We’ve talked internally about our arts and crafts and how to ensure there is a premium and additional margin for people producing arts and crafts in the Northwest Territories. We’ve talked about branding and tags that would have some reference to the artists who created the crafts. But with that and with that branding certainly will come “Made in the NWT” labels. Could that be expanded to other products? It probably could. It’s something that I’d like to consider in my discussions with chambers of commerce and I think it is a good initiative that could be discussed and debated as the program service review is undertaken. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are more than 400 people who work in this industry of northern manufacturing and I think it’s important that we take a serious look at that. This manufacturing industry commits over $63 million to our northern economy, and I think it’s more than a laughable number; I think it’s quite a serious number that we have to pay serious attention to. So I believe in my heart that they deserve a lot of respect. So would the Minister seriously consider and maybe commit today to at least look into a logo program, which would only cost pennies, so we can put stickers on products made in the North so we can continue that recognition? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll certainly investigate that possibility, and I think it could be a component of an NWT manufacturing strategy. This is something that I think is very important. So I can give the Member the assurance that we’ll discuss that as a department; discuss it with the BDIC; and certainly talk to chambers of commerce about that initiative; and, again, give the Member my commitment that we do intend to develop an NWT manufacturing strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that commitment from the Minister, because a little logo program doesn’t need a lot of administration and a long time research, so I look forward to his response on that when he gets back to me. Would he also look towards making a web site? B.C. has a “Made in B.C.” program and apparently it’s hugely accepted and seen as a special launch to promote B.C. manufactured products. Would he look at creating or maybe implementing something similar to the B.C. “Made in B.C.” program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll admit that I’m not familiar with the “Made in B.C.” program. The concept sounds sound, and I can give the Member my assurance again that as we investigate an NWT manufacturing strategy, we’ll look at all these possibilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.