Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the South Slave, we have many of the traditional tourist attractions: the waterfalls, wildlife, campgrounds, and miles of sandy beaches. We have to continue to preserve and promote these attractions. However, we need to think beyond these traditional forms of tourism. There are exciting and unique opportunities in my region that we need to capitalize on in order to diversify our economy and insulate us from fluctuations in global commodity prices. The government is working on the commercial fisheries revitalization strategy. As home of the commercial fishing industry in the territory, breathing new life into the fishery can be a boon to Hay River's tourist sector. One just has to look at the popularity of Pike Place Market in Seattle or the Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco to see that commercial fishing brings significant tourist potential. In fact, the Fisherman's Wharf in Hay River is already the most popular summer venue in town.
While designing our new fish processing facility, we must also keep in mind and capitalize on its potential as an integral part of the overall tourism strategy. Tourists have also expressed interest in going out on the lake on a working commercial fishing vessel, and this is something that we must explore as well. Because of jurisdictional issues, we will need this government's supports to work with the feds on policy and regulatory changes to allow this. Hay River is also lucky enough to be the home of the Northern Farm Training Institute. NFTI, as it is known, has garnered international attention from those interested in agriculture and the environment, as well as from academics in the scientific community. It is uniquely positioned to be an agritourist and ecotourist destination as well as a venue for scientific and agriculture conferences. This is truly something unique that very few places can offer. Because of the work NFTI has already done, it is a member of a world-wide network and has access to potential tourists from around the globe. It has also created a three-year tourism plan and is working hard to build its own capacity. This government needs to embrace and support efforts like this. Mr. Speaker, these are just two examples, but I could go on. By thinking outside the box and supporting these and other unique opportunities, we could help turn Hay River into a true tourist destination. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
