Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment with regard to funding of the arts. Mr. Speaker, it is clear from the level of interest generated yesterday by the review of the lottery act how many people believe passionately in the arts and want to see enhanced government arts funding. Our arts strategy was developed back in 2004. I am wondering, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to reaching out to the arts community and will the Minister support a review of the NWT Arts Strategy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, the NWT Arts Council Strategic Plan is coming to an end this year. We are working with the Department of ITI to look at options on creating a new NWT Arts Strategy. Obviously, we want to also involve our advisory body with the arts council and standing committee when we are looking at these options. We will proceed with those options, and, after discussions with the Department of ITI, we will come back to the Members of the Legislative Assembly.
It sounds like there is a little bit of light at the end of that tunnel, so I appreciate the Minister's response. Let's talk a little bit, Mr. Speaker, about the money. You know, the NWT Arts Council, as the Minister alluded to, they have had the same budget for the last 10 years, even though the demand as shown by the number of applications keeps increasing, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister commit to seeking more support for the Arts Council in order that more deserving artists can receive support for their creative endeavours? In other words, will the Minister support an increase to the NWT Arts Council? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Collectively, the GNWT supports the arts community with various departments, with various rebates, with various different supports. We are currently looking at how much we are spending in the arts sector with all departments. Before we begin those discussions, we need to see what those numbers are. We are confident that we do provide sufficient support to the whole NWT arts sector and all the programs that we have throughout the GNWT departments.
I appreciate that the Minister is going to undertake a review of sorts to some degree. The question really was as it related specifically to the NWT Arts Council. Their budget has been fixed for 10 years. At some point, you have to recognize that there do not need to be more research and strategies built around this sort of thing. After 10 years, you need an increase. There were over 1,700 applicants this year for that pot of money. People are being turned away. I just want to know: will the Minister commit to an increase to the NWT Arts Council?
I also want to point out that the funding that we have given to the NWT Arts Council has been protected from any reductions moving forward, as well, and that we continue to support the arts sector and, as I mentioned in my previous answer, that we are going to be looking collectively at our contributions with all GNWT departments to see how much we are actually contributing and supporting the NWT arts community. Then we will have those discussions afterwards.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to try just a little bit of a different avenue here. We know that the North has produced award-winning artists of all kinds: visual artists, theatre artists, musicians, and filmmakers. We also know that travel in and around the North and to get in and out of the North is very expensive. Will the Minister commit to seeking funding support for artists touring so that northern artists can reach a wider audience across Canada and elsewhere in the world? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Obviously, we do support that as a government. We support our artists that go to national events and festivals throughout the country. We will continue to do that. We also do it in the sports sector. If you look at the upcoming Olympics, we have three athletes who are going to be going to the Olympics who have gone through the system. We also have Juno Award winners, nominees whom we have supported coming from the communities. If you look at other programs we do as a government and as a territory, such as traditional game summits that promote sport, culture, and our artists as well as the upcoming Arctic Winter Games, we are supporting artists, we are supporting athletes, we are supporting both. As a government and as a Member of this Legislative Assembly, we do support, I support, the sports, recreations, culture, heritage as well as our artists, always have and will continue to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
