The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has accepted a letter of offer from Fireweed Zinc Ltd. (Fireweed) to acquire its Mactung property.

The GNWT took ownership of Mactung in 2015 as part of the insolvency of North American Tungsten Corporation Limited in order to protect the economic value of the property’s tungsten deposit for future development. 

The GNWT’s goal has always been to return the property to the private sector once its commodity value recovered.

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Mr. Speaker, Environmental, Social, and Governance, or ESG principles have become more prevalent over the past few years in the mineral resources industry, with investors, demographic groups, and the general public demanding stronger ESG investments from business and industry.

Residents interested in buyinglocally-raised meat in the NWT are in support the development of Meat Safety Regulations. That is one of the findings in the Department of Health and Social Services’ report, What We Heard: Development of Meat Safety Regulations Under the Public Health Act.

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Good afternoon and thank you for inviting me to speak to you today. I’ve had a couple of brief media events in person over the last month but this is my first formal opportunity to join folks in a room for an event. There is a bit of synergy here: my role, in my view, is performed better when I am more connected to people and community and your industry connects people and communities so thank you for hopefully the first of many more opportunities to be back out in person connecting.

Following the easing of restrictions in the Northwest Territories (NWT), the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has reopened the Business Stream of the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP). 

As the Northwest Territories (NWT) rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic, exploration and development in diamonds, gold, and several critical minerals bode well for the NWT economy in the coming year. 

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, through the Northwest Territories Geological Survey (NTGS), released its Overview of 2021 Mineral Exploration today.

Northwest Territories Parks and Campgrounds will open beginning May 13, 2022. 

This year online reservations are being accepted as of: 

• April 5 at 10:00 am - Prelude Lake campground 
• April 6 at 10:00 am - Reid Lake campground
• April 7 at 10:00 am - Fred Henne campground  
• April 8 at 10:00 am - all campgrounds 

Campsites at the following campgrounds are not available for booking through the online reservation system, but on a first come, first served basis at the gatehouse:

Harvesters and trappers are now able to capitalize on the demand for beaver castors in the global market. 

Under the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur program, trappers can be advanced $65 for each pound of dried beaver castors, or approximately eight dried castors. 

If the castors sell for more at auction, the trapper will receive the proceeds as well as a prime fur bonus. 

As the territory positions itself to meet the energy and mineral needs of the future, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Caroline Wawzonek, spoke at the 21st annual Arctic Energy & Resource Symposium in Calgary, highlighting the GNWT’s work towards attracting environmental, social and governance (ESG) conscious investors and project developers.

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This would have been my first opportunity to attend this annual event.

I understand the scope of the conference has been expanded this year - beyond arctic oil and gas - to include the broader energy and resource potential of Canada’s North.

This wider focus is one more-closely matched to the true potential of today’s Northwest Territories and I am pleased to be able to offer some comments this morning.