Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories knows that climate change is an important issue to Northwest Territories residents and all Canadians.

That’s why strengthening the government’s leadership and authority on climate change and ensuring climate change impacts are considered when making government decisions are two of the 22 priorities identified by the 19^th Legislative Assembly.

Climate change affects our environment, our economy and the traditional way of life.

Mr. Speaker, caribou are central to our communities, as a food source and as part of the local culture and way of life.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, our caribou herds are struggling. In particular, the Bathurst and Bluenose-East herds have suffered serious declines in recent years.

This weekend, Cabinet members, Indigenous governments and Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) officials will head to Vancouver for AME Mineral Roundup – one of Canada’s largest mining conferences.

The19th Legislative Assembly has identified increasing resource exploration and development as a priority.  As Cabinet finalizes their Mandate, participation in this event demonstrates their commitment to the priority and to working in partnership with Indigenous governments and stakeholders to advocate and voice support for this sector.

Starting January 1, 2020, new hunters must complete Hunter Education prior to being issued a hunting licence in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

Mr. Speaker, hunting has a long and honourable history in the Northwest Territories. At the heart of this tradition is a deep respect for wildlife, the environment and the people of this land. Residents of the Northwest Territories have told us they want to make sure these values and practices are passed on to the next generation of harvesters.

The attached is being released on behalf of the Yamoga Land Corporation, the Fort Good Hope Métis Nation Land Corporation, the Ayoni Keh Land Corporation and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Robert C. McLeod released a new framework that will guide the development of five regional range plans for boreal caribou in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

Range plans are tools for decision-makers, developers and communities to help manage activities on the land in a way that supports caribou conservation.

A plan developed by a multi-stakeholder working group to address changes on the traditional range of the Bathurst caribou herd was released today.

The Bathurst Caribou Range Plan will help decision-makers manage activities on the land in a way that supports the recovery of the Bathurst herd, while providing clarity on land use and access for developers, regulators and residents of the Northwest Territories (NWT).

Mr. Speaker, this government made a commitment at the beginning of this Legislative Assembly to support the effective co-management of our caribou herds.  As you know, many of our herds are experiencing rapid declines and it is our shared responsibility as a government and a territory to promote their recovery.

Range plans are a vital part of how we work together to co-manage our caribou herds and provide guidance to decision-makers, developers and communities to manage activities on the land in a way that supports healthy caribou populations.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories made a mandate commitment to finalize a strategic plan to enhance existing programming and build new partnership initiatives to support healthy and sustainable traditional lifestyles, and to develop country food programming to promote the consumption of wild foods.