Mr. Speaker, in January the Premier and I led a second trade mission of NWT business representatives and government officials to China and Japan. Our delegation included NWT tour operators, partners in our fur and fashion industries, and a member of our territory’s diamond manufacturing sector Ms. Verda Law, of Yellowknife Tours, Mr. Ragnar Wesstrom of Enodah Wilderness Adventures, Mr. Hideo Nagatani from Aurora Village, Mr. Andrew Stanley, a trapper from Hay River, Mr. Fernando Alvarez of Jacques Cartier Clothing and Mr. Dylan Dix of Crossworks Manufacturing. 

Delivered on February 17, 2015

Mr. Speaker, last year’s extreme forest fires burned an area of over three million hectares. While it was likely the worst fire season we’ve ever had, wildland fires are a natural occurrence, leading to forest and wildlife renewal.

One early sign of renewal is the appearance of morel mushrooms, and we anticipate a bumper crop this summer.

YELLOWKNIFE (January 30, 2015) – Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay today issued a call for bids for exploration licences for two parcels of land located in the in the Central Mackenzie Valley.

VANCOUVER (January 28, 2015) — Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) David Ramsay announced that a new Northwest Territories’ Mining Industry Advisory Board (MIAB) is being established to help to ensure that the territory is an attractive place to invest in mineral exploration and discover new mines. The announcement was made at the AME BC Mineral Exploration Roundup in Vancouver.

BEIJING (January 22, 2015 ) – As  a founding member of the Fur Institute of Canada (FIC), the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) advanced a proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the FIC and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).

TOKYO (January 21, 2015) – Premier Bob McLeod and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment  (ITI) David Ramsay are concluding their trade and investment mission to China and Japan this week with a focus on tourism. On January 20, they hosted a “Rare in Nature” reception and fashion show at the Canadian embassy in Tokyo, showcasing the NWT’s magnificent aurora and highly prized luxury resources.

YELLOWKNIFE (January 7, 2015) – Premier Bob McLeod and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay will lead a delegation to China and Japan from January 10-21, 2015.

YELLOWKNIFE (December 22, 2014) – The 2014 Energy Charrette Report was released today. The report summarizes discussions that took place among over 100 representatives from NWT communities, Aboriginal governments, industry, energy experts and other government officials on November 3-4, 2014 in Yellowknife. 

YELLOWKNIFE (December 22, 2014) – Minister David Ramsay, Government of the Northwest Territories Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations, and Willard Hagen, Chair of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on December 19.

YELLOWKNIFE (December 4, 2014) – Seven Northwest Territories residents were recently certified to deliver the FirstHost Tourism Program to those working in the territory’s emerging Aboriginal tourism sector.