Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has a centuries-long history in trapping and the fur trade. We have a high regard for the cultural values entrenched in this tradition, which set Northerners apart from other Canadians; and for the activities of the traditional economy which have helped shape our North and remain in many of our communities today.

As a proud founder and partner of the Fur Institute of Canada, the Government of the Northwest Territories continues its tradition of leadership in this industry.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its Mandate to finalize and implement the Commercial Fisheries Revitalization Strategy. I would like to share with Members of this Assembly, the work the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is doing to revitalize the Northwest Territories’ commercial fishery and broaden the NWT’s economic horizons.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its Mandate to develop and implement an Agriculture Strategy to increase domestic food production, improve distribution networks for NWT-produced foods and to increase producer and supplier opportunities.

The price of food is a significant driver of the Northwest Territories’ high cost of living in all of our communities, Mr. Speaker.  Equally important in supporting and growing our vibrant communities, is diversity in localized economies.

Mr. Speaker, it has been 25 years since Charles Fipke and his team discovered diamonds near Lac de Gras and brought the largest mineral rush in decades to our North.

This year, our diamond mines surpassed $50 billion in total mineral value produced in these 25 years.

The Government of the Northwest Territories mandate document highlights the fact that benefits from non-renewable resource production enable investment in many priority areas.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its Mandate to build partnerships to support, among other things, culturally-based tourism.

The tourism sector offers the potential for direct and indirect economic growth in many of our communities and the possibility for diversification and growth of regional economies.

As we look to the future, we can be assured that our government’s strategic approach to tourism development is already working.

YELLOWKNFE (June 2, 2016) — The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is partnering with the Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO)  to bring exciting new mentorship opportunities in the tourism sector.

CESO and Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) have reached an agreement which will see CESO take on frontline delivery of the Tourism Business Mentorship Program, executed through their roster of Volunteer Advisors.

YELLOWKNIFE (May 20, 2016) – Premier Bob McLeod announced the following changes to the senior ranks of the territorial public service today:

YELLOWKNIFE (May 13, 2016) — A transformative figure in the Northwest Territories’ (NWT) mining sector, who discovered the Snap Lake kimberlite deposit, received pan-territorial recognition yesterday.

Randy Turner, President and CEO of Canterra Minerals and Independence Gold, was awarded the Professional Award of Merit in Geosciences by the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (NAPEG) for excellence in applied geology and geoscience in the NWT and Nunavut.

YELLOWKNIFE (May 13, 2016) — Gates swung open at parks across the Northwest Territories (NWT) this morning marking the start of another spectacular season for outdoors enthusiasts from the territory and beyond.

Park users will notice some improvements in facilities this year, with $3.5 million in capital investment allocated to the NWT’s five regions by the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. 

YELLOWKNIFE (May 9, 2016) – Growing season kicks off in the North Slave region today with the first in a series of exciting workshops for gardening enthusiasts.

The Grow Together Garden Series will bring monthly workshops designed to teach Northern gardening skills to Yellowknifers throughout the growing season.