Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community of Fort Providence is very interested in the increasing amount of tourism that we are seeing in terms of small-community travel. My questions are to the Minister of ITI and Infrastructure: what actions have been taken in the last year toward getting a big sign erected to alert travellers that they are approaching the mighty Deh Cho? Mahsi.
Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has brought this to my attention today. Upon follow-up, the short answer is: none. The ITI staff has met regularly with the tri-council organization in his community. There are a number of discussions that have taken place there. Upon further follow-up, we have not had any discussions on what we talked about in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What are the steps to getting a sign placed along the highway?
To get a sign along the side of the highway, that is through the Department of Infrastructure. There are both guidelines and a formal process that is in place to approve all sign applications for signage along our highway network in the Northwest Territories. Signs need to meet a technical requirement. Any person or organization who wants to put up a sign must apply through an application process.
The Minister has agreed that a big Deh Cho sign in the roadside park is a good idea. I am thinking that it is the government's job to initiate projects like this on the road system. Will the Minister confirm that he will get this job done?
As I have said in previous questions from the Member and the House, I think that this is a great idea. On the second part of the question, I don't know if we need to be the initiator of it. I am going to talk to my superintendent in the region about having a conversation with the local community groups that need to be involved, but I think that this needs to be pushed as well from the local group, and maybe with some input from our MLA from the riding, to get some input from him, as well. I think that this needs to be collaborative approach, not just a one-sided approach, but we certainly need to work together on this. I know that I made a commitment in this House to have this discussion with his community, and we will do that.
Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have reached out to talk to Members of the Deh Gah Bridge Society and DIGAA Enterprises, and they are willing and very interested in making this a possible reality. When will the Minister instruct the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment to develop a program for this sign project and seek input on the content from local governments? Mahsi.
As I said, I will get our superintendent to go in there to have a discussion with the tri-council group in the community. I know that there has been a lot of conversation with that group, particularly around the old landing site for the ferry landing, about turning that into a park, which would be a long-term project that we are trying to work on and have discussions with them. I know that there needs to be some restoration work, if I remember from my briefing with DFO on that, but I will be sure that our superintendent, when we goes there and meets with the tri-council again, initiates the conversation about this signage project along the highway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
