Debates of May 14, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Investment. It’s a bit of a step-off from the statement that he made advising the House of the new reservation system for campers and RVs coming to the NWT. I applaud that; I think it’s a great way to show the NWT’s on board with the modern tourism industry. We’ve been engaged in an exercise here in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, to create more space, more capacity for RVers who want to come up our newly paved highway and, hopefully, try out, in a few years, our newly built Deh Cho Bridge.

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So this is very much something that I’ve been looking forward to and I’m fully supportive of creating more capacity. However, there has been some conflict in the selection of the site by the Yellowknife Airport and adjacent to the Folk on the Rocks music festival site to build a 36-site park. It’s got great amenities there but, Mr. Speaker, it also has some shortcomings, not the least of which is the concern about the impact on the festival and its location on the site near the noisy airport and its potential for expansion. Mr. Speaker, is the department going ahead with development of this site in light of these concerns?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 67-15(6): Recreational Vehicle Site Development In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Member's concerns about the site that we’ve been looking at. He has, on the floor of this House, I think at least on one other occasion some months back, raised his concerns about the site, particularly that it was in the flight path. When we looked at options and land that was available to us, this site seemed to make a lot of sense and it was nicely situated close to Fred Henne Park on the shore of Long Lake; it looked like a very good place. We knew we’d have to do some work on the site, but we sat down to do some consultation with some of the potential stakeholders and have run into some difficulties; some concerns have been raised. So we’re now at the point where we’re going to look at some alternative sites as well, and it will be up for the next government to decide what the best site to move forward on is. There’s no doubt, though, that we need adequate RV space in this city and if this isn’t the site, then we have to sit down and get serious about finding a site soon. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Short supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 67-15(6): Recreational Vehicle Site Development In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the concerns about the -- the folk festival aside -- one of the concerns, a business case concern was that at 36 sites and the lack of opportunity for expansion, this would really not be an adequate one for us. What are the projections and what would an ideal size be for a RV park here in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 67-15(6): Recreational Vehicle Site Development In Yellowknife

Mr. Speaker, it’s difficult to know exactly. We think that in future years we ball-parked the need at somewhere near 100 sites. We hope that that’s not too optimistic. I guess we would start with the 30 or so sites and see where we are. That’s the number of sites that this site would accommodate, but in future we hope we can get to the point where the demand is about 100. Obviously the refinishing of this road coming north we think will improve the prospects for rubber-tire tourism, but we’ll have to see. These are just projections and they are our best forecasts and guesses at this point. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 67-15(6): Recreational Vehicle Site Development In Yellowknife

Mr. Speaker, does the department anticipate that this would be a territorially run RV site, as many others are in the NWT, or is the objective to find a private owner or private operator, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 67-15(6): Recreational Vehicle Site Development In Yellowknife

Mr. Speaker, I don’t think any options have been ruled out. We’d be willing to sit down and talk to prospective stakeholders, prospective partners, about a model that would best solve this problem. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 67-15(6): Recreational Vehicle Site Development In Yellowknife

Yes, Mr. Speaker, thank you. My question is would the department continue with its strategy to fund the development, the capital cost, and then seek a suitable operator or owner? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 67-15(6): Recreational Vehicle Site Development In Yellowknife

Mr. Speaker, that was the thought. Of course, we have a supplementary appropriation coming up soon. I can’t pre-empt that, but presumably there will be some questions and some discussion around this budget item which has changed from the initial proposal and we can talk about that at that point. Thank you.