GNWT delegation on trade mission to China and Japan
Sahtu MLA questions cost of $300,000 trip, wants proof of results
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 12, 2015
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
David Ramsay, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI), is optimistic the territorial government trade mission to Japan and China will yield positive results for the territory but not everyone is convinced.
David Ramsay: Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment says the purpose of the trade mission to China and Japan is to promote NWT tourism, fur, diamonds and mining. - NNSL file photo |
Eight government representatives jetted off to China Saturday and will travel to Japan Jan. 17 before returning to the NWT on Jan. 21. Ramsay and Premier Bob McLeod are among those going. Seven businesses are also participating.
The purpose of the visit is to promote NWT tourism, fur, diamonds and mining.
A GNWT delegation made a similar trip to China in 2014.
"This year we're hoping to follow up on some of those contacts we made last year," said Ramsay. "When you're dealing with a new market like China specifically, it's not a place where you can go just once or just twice even and expect to get results but last year when we were there we made some really good contacts, especially on the investment side and we had companies come back to the NWT to visit us to find out more about opportunities here in the NWT."
Ramsay said he believes the territory is making "big strides" in the area of Chinese tourism.
"We've seen growth in tour operators who are Chinese here in Yellowknife and we're excited to see where we can take that."
Plus, the number of Chinese visitors to the NWT has more than doubled since the Chinese government granted Canada favourable destination status in 2010, he noted.
| Yakeleya wants ITI to outline benefits of the trip |
Last year, the territory received more than 90,000 visitors. Up to 16,000 came from Japan while another 1,500 or so hailed from China, according to Ramsay.
He also noted that the mission goes beyond promoting tourism.
"Our territory is well positioned to address China's growing interest in luxury goods. We have world-renowned wild fur. It's highly sought after by consumers in China and also our diamonds are of particular interest to the Chinese as well."
NWT exports to Asia have gradually increased over the past decade and in 2013 were valued at $156 million, according to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya said he wants ITI to outline the benefits of the trip because so far he isn't seeing any positive results in his region.
The estimated price tag for the trip is $300,000. ITI and executive council media personnel were unsure on the final amount for last year's trip to China. However, a news release from 2014 shows the estimated cost was $243,000.
"I think that money could be and should be used in better ways other than to go into the Asian countries (of) Japan and China. It should be spent in the Sahtu communities or any other communities," said Yakeleya, suggesting the government invest in training workers in health care or the trades, or building infrastructure that will help businesses already operating in the territory grow, such as Husky.
"They (Husky) really need a Mackenzie Valley highway to further their development across the river from Norman Wells."
As far as tourism goes, Yakeleya doesn't think this trip will have any benefit for operators outside of the capital city.
"The price of an airline ticket costs too much even to come from Yellowknife into Norman Wells or Deline or Fort Good Hope or even Tulita.
"We're having outfitters in the Sahtu region who are struggling to maintain their business. The tourism dollars, you have to call it for what it is, it's going into the Yellowknife businesses and they're going to be benefiting from this trip here if there is any type of benefit."
Ramsay, on the other hand, referred back to the old adage, "you have to spend money to make money."
"If we can get something tangible out of this that's a small amount to be paying in the grand scheme of things. It does sound like a lot right up front but again I think you have to look at it with the long view approach. If you do that it certainly is justified. We are promoting the NWT, promoting opportunities, growing our economy, trying to get more tourists spending money here and that's something that's our responsibility as a government.
"Nobody is going to get out and promote the NWT, that's up to us."
