YELLOWKNIFE (June 19, 2015) – A delegation from Northwest Territories travelled to Europe from June 7-12 to promote the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link (MVFL). The delegation included Premier Bob McLeod, Minister J Michael Miltenberger, Minister Robert C McLeod, MLA Robert Hawkins, officials from the federal and territorial governments and a representative from the Northern Lights General Partnership, the contractor for the MVFL.

The delegation visited clients for both the MVFL and the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (ISSF), including:

BANFF, ALBERTA (June 12, 2015) – Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) David Ramsay was among those in attendance yesterday at the re-opening of Jacques Cartier Clothier in its new location in the Banff Springs Hotel.

The boutique specializes in the sale of high-end qiviut (muskox wool) garments created from hides sourced exclusively from Inuvialuit harvesters in the Beaufort Delta.

CALGARY (June 11, 2015) – Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay was in Calgary this morning to speak and meet with investors and oil and gas industry stakeholders at the Global Petroleum Show.

YELLOWKNIFE (June 5, 2015) – The fire ban implemented at the Fred Henne and Yellowknife River Territorial Parks has been lifted.

Campers and those using the parks are asked to follow safe fire practices.

Consistent with the fire ban implemented by the Hamlet of Fort Providence, a fire ban remains in effect at the Fort Providence campground.    

Visit www.nwtfire.com  for more information on fire conditions within the NWT.
Please report smoke or fire to 1-877-NWT-FIRE (698-3473). 

For more information:

ELLOWKNIFE (June 5, 2015) – The new Northwest Territories Mining Industry Advisory Board (MIAB) held its inaugural meeting in Yellowknife on June 3, 2015.

Board members agreed that the health of the mineral industry in the NWT is at a critical point. During the current downturn in commodity prices, the NWT must position itself to maximize opportunities presented by a return to higher commodity prices.

Mr. Speaker, NWT’s commercial fishery has been hit hard over the past decade by a number of circumstances well beyond its influence or control.

Hardest hit have been commercial fishers in the NWT who have been powerless to respond to a rise in the Canadian dollar, border closures and weakening US and global markets. Our fleets and fishers are aging considerably. The volumes and participation in our fishery have declined.

YELLOWKNIFE (June 2, 2015) – The Northwest Territories diamond industry took the stage at the industry’s premiere trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada this past weekend.

Mr. Speaker, this is National Tourism Week and across the NWT we are celebrating with events ranging from the “Be A Tourist In Your Own Town” promotion here in Yellowknife to community picnics, film screenings, open houses, and complimentary tours of local attractions.

There is much to celebrate and I would like to take a moment to highlight some of the recent successes and milestones this vibrant sector of our economy has achieved.

YELLOWKNIFE (May 29, 2015) – A wide variety of events and activities are taking place across the Northwest Territories in celebration of National Tourism Week, which runs from May 31 to June 6 this year.

In the 2013/14 fiscal year, the tourism industry contributed a staggering $132.5 million in visitor revenue and attracted 90,000 visitors from around the world – the highest number of visitors in a decade.

Mr. Speaker, economic opportunity comes in all shapes and forms. This summer, it is coming to the Northwest Territories in the form of morel mushrooms – a delicacy highly sought after by food markets around the world.

Ultimately, Mother Nature will have the largest role in determining the success of our harvest. However, under the right conditions, we anticipate this harvest could generate as much as ten million dollars in the NWT this summer.