Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  If I can make that, that would be great. Increase funding to the Canadian Tourism Commission. Obviously they're the body that markets Canada as a whole for tourism--Canada as a destination--so that would be great. There's one thing, actually, Larry, that wasn't on your list, and we were remiss in bringing it up, but I'd like to ask for your indulgence now, if I may.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We've had some initial discussions. There hasn't been any communication within the last couple of months. We were invited to industry sessions, I believe in January, and then we've had other discussions with Karen Dove here locally. She spoke at our industry conference in May in Dawson City.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I believe she's the director there. I'm not sure, because things were changing throughout that time, so I'm not sure of her exact title. There haven't been any discussions over the past number of months. Again, that's not pointing any fingers, and we need to take responsibility for that as well.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Sure, I'd be happy to talk about that. Last year at about this time, actually, we entered into discussions with the Klondike Placer Miners' Association as well as the Yukon Chamber of Mines and developed a memorandum of understanding with those two organizations. The memorandum of understanding is between the two mining organizations and the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No. We definitely recognize that one area as an issue, but we agree to park it at the door when we're having the meetings and we proceed with the other issues at hand.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm not sure where it's at right now, but I know even as far back as eight to ten years ago there were initiatives undertaken to actually begin trademarking the words “Yukon” and “Klondike”, and those kinds of phrases. I don't know where it's at right now.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'd like to echo what Stephen is saying. The tourism industry has always said that we need to have both mining and tourism in the territory. We need to have a balanced approach. Many of our operators benefit from mining companies operating here in the territory, and that's for everything from airlines to hoteliers, restauranteurs, retail outlets, etc.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We're going through a second land use planning process. We've completed and signed off on one in north Yukon. Public comment has passed, and now we're waiting for recommendations for the Peel area. To give you an example of how this played out, there was quite a debate this past summer between the mining and tourism industries, as well as the environmental groups, in respect of how the recommendations will be given to government and what government will decide how the land will be used.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  This is news.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would say that the rental car issue is absolutely top of mind, and if there's any jeopardy in terms of a border crossing closing, especially in the summer months on the Top of the World Highway, that's definitely an issue. The Top of the World Highway is basically a circle route.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We would like to see that too. It would be great to see more collaboration between the Canadian Tourism Commission and Parks Canada to promote the parks, specifically in the north. I was just at the TIAC conference in St. John, and Parks Canada did speak about the partnership that they're starting to develop with the Canadian Tourism Commission.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would suggest that the fuel prices you've been seeing around town over the last couple of days have been quite an anomaly. They don't normally look like that. I have to say that when I saw 91.9 cents per litre, I rushed to the gas station and got my fuel. An hour later, when I saw 86.9 cents per litre, I went, “Oh.”

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  So that doesn't happen here normally. And I would echo what Marc says, that in summer the fuel prices are quite a bit higher, especially coming up the highway. There are places on the highway where you could pay $1.30 or more a litre.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll take the question for SINED and then I'll pass the question on Parks Canada to Mary Ann. SINED funding is there. It has been available to us and there have been people in the tourism industry who have accessed that funding. The feedback that we have from our constituents, because TIA Yukon is a membership-based organization, is that the funding is difficult to get.