Minister Schumann delivered the following keynote speech via video-conference at an event hosted by Carleton University:

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Good morning everyone.

I’m pleased to be able to speak to you this morning from Yellowknife, on this important policy symposium on the future of Canada’s north. 

Thank you to Carleton University’s School of Public Policy for helping bring attention to the issues that are so critical for the people who live in northern Canada. 

In fact, these are issues that should matter to all Canadians.  

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has taken action to support its mineral exploration sector by extending a successful program for two years.

The Work Credit Program (WCP), originally introduced in 2015 to offset costs for mineral explorers since a downturn in the financial markets, will be extended for two years beginning April 1, 2019 to continue to encourage more exploration.

The Government of the Northwest Territoires (GNWT) has announced that three communities will get funding for Coordinators who will be responsible for working on key tourism projects.

This is part of the Community Tourism Coordinator Program — an initiative of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment designed to help communities hire and maintain individuals to develop sustainable and marketable tourism products.

The communities selected for this intake are:

Mr. Speaker, with the conclusion of the seventh annual Dead North Film Festival this past weekend, it is appropriate that I speak today on our vibrant film industry and its growing importance to our economy.

First, I’d like to congratulate all of the participants in this year’s event.  Nearly 40 films were submitted to the festival this year with entries from across the North, each region of our territory; and from as young as nine and ten years old.

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Good morning everyone.

Thank you to the Parliamentary Secretary for his words.

Mr. Lefebvre has done a great job of outlining the details of the investments that our governments are making today.

As he mentioned, the Slave Geological Province is a region rich in mineral deposits. It is – in fact - the birthplace of Canadian diamonds.

Resource development remains the principal driver of the Northwest Territories economy. This is why the Government of Canada is investing $5.1M in two projects that will support resource development in the Slave Geological Province (SGP).

Minister Schumann delivered the following remakrs this morning at an event held during PDAC. 

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On behalf of the Premier and Government of the Northwest Territories, I’d like to thank you for inviting me to speak to you this morning.

Attending events like PDAC is important for our government. It provides an opportunity for us to showcase the Northwest Territories, promote the importance of mining and the benefits mining brings to the residents of the Northwest Territories, industry players, and Canada.

This weekend, Wally Schumann, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Infrastructure and Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) officials will make their way to Toronto for the annual Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention. The convention, which will run from March 3-6, is one of the leading international events for the mineral industry.

Mr. Speaker, our world-class tourism industry offers the greatest opportunity we have to grow diversity in our economy.

As we approach April 1^st, the budget proposed for the next year fiscal year reflects this.  It contains nearly $6.3 million in contributions and program funding to support our tourism industry; an increase of $800 thousand dollars from 2018-2019. 

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has world-class mineral potential that could bring economic benefits to the residents of the Northwest Territories, industry players, and Canada.