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.

Check against delivery

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.

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has a mandate to advance the knowledge economy in the Northwest Territories. In doing this, we have engaged with residents, and they have told us that the knowledge economy needs to be grounded in innovation.  

Today, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), in collaboration with Northwest Territories Tourism (NWTT), released the Resident Readiness Strategy, a short-term strategy created to support NWT residents in welcoming back tourists to the NWT.

The Northwest Territories Geological Survey (NTGS) is accepting applications for the 2022-2023 Northwest Territories (NWT) Mining Incentive Program (MIP).  The NWT MIP provides funding support to prospectors and exploration companies that propose a new exploration project or are already carrying out NWT mineral exploration work.

Changes made to the MIP to offset the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on NWT mineral exploration will remain in place for the upcoming year.

These changes include: 

Following the long-awaited announcement from the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO), tourism operators have a tangible goal for the 2022 travel season; on March 1, the territory reopened to leisure travel and operators are preparing to welcome visitors back.

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, today is the day that the Northwest Territories tourism sector has been anticipating for nearly two years. I am so happy to finally say that as of today, the NWT is welcoming back friends and visitors from near and far.

We all know that the NWT is a growing destination of choice for travelers from across Canada and around the world. In fact, in the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the territory had a record 120 thousand visitors, contributing more than $210 million to its economy.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI), Caroline Wawzonek, is pleased to announce further increased supports for small and medium businesses across the Northwest Territories (NWT).

Since March 2020, the GNWT has been supporting entrepreneurs and businesses through diverse and flexible programming, assisting businesses with costs such as rent, utilities, and bookkeeping.

Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, issued the following statement on Canada’s Agriculture Day:

“Today is Canada’s Agriculture Day, celebrating a critical industry that touches everyone’s lives. In the Northwest Territories (NWT), agriculture is literally and figuratively a growing sector, with initiatives and projects in every region across the territory.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released a discussion paper titled Review of Royalty Regulations in the NWT to guide engagements on the royalty regime and Mineral Resources Act Regulations (MRAR).