April 10, 2014 – I was very sorry to hear of the death of Jim Flaherty, my longtime federal counterpart. He was a good man who worked hard for Canada and managed us through some very difficult times. He supported the aspirations of the NWT and supported us in getting the tools we needed to better run the NWT and gain control over our own future. I heard the news with a very heavy heart.
YELLOWKNIFE (March 18, 2014) – The Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link (MVFL) continues to move closer to reality with the announcement today by Finance Minister J. Michael Miltenberger that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has filed a permitting application to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board for preliminary screening of the project.
Mr. Speaker, last week I delivered the 2014-15 budget on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories. That budget was based on a fiscal strategy of living within our means while still identifying funds to better support the people of the Northwest Territories and make strategic investments in our economy. Part of our plan included investing in the future of the territory by allocating five percent of resource revenues coming through devolution to the Heritage Fund.
Mr. Speaker, many of our residents want to access more government services “on line”, rather than standing “in line”.
We are looking at ways to improve service delivery. In 2013 we approved the Service Innovation Strategy, a government-wide strategy to improve the delivery of programs and services by leveraging technology and by taking a more coordinated approach to service delivery.
YELLOWKNIFE (January 21, 2014) – The Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link (MVFL) moves closer to reality with the announcement today by Finance Minister J. Michael Miltenberger that three proponents have been shortlisted, pursuant to the GNWT’s Request For Qualifications on the project.
The three shortlisted proponents are:
YELLOWKNIFE (January 13, 2014) – The final report of Budget Dialogue 2013 (Budget Dialogue 2013 Results here) confirms the GNWT’s overall approach to maximizing the benefits of resource revenues for present and future NWT residents by investing in long-term infrastructure, repaying debt, and investing money in the Heritage Fund.
(October 18, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to update Members on our fiscal situation and discuss some of the things we are looking forward to in the near-term.
YELLOWKNIFE (September 16, 2013) – Finance Minister J. Michael Miltenberger has begun a public dialogue with NWT residents on a management plan to maximize the benefits of resource revenues for present and future NWT residents.
(February 7, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, this Assembly started with a four year budget plan, with the first two years focusing on fiscal discipline to build our cash reserves in order that in the final two years we could have an enhanced infrastructure budget. The Budget presented today is the second budget of the 17th Legislative Assembly and represents the continued cooperative approach enabling us to meet the objectives of our four year plan.
YELLOWKNIFE (February 7, 2013) – Today’s budget tabled by Finance Minister J. Michael Miltenberger sticks to the four-year fiscal plan developed last year while achieving operational savings to invest in urgent priorities.
