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).
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is partnering with the Government of Canada to develop its next agriculture funding policy framework.
Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), the GNWT will host engagements on various platforms until March 31, 2022.
The next five-year national policy for agricultural funding in the Northwest Territories (NWT) is currently under development with agriculture partners and stakeholders and will contribute to realizing the vision and goals of the NWT Agriculture Strategy.
Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Caroline Wawzonek issued the following statement on resource development in the Northwest Territories:
