Distinguished guests, Chiefs, honoured colleagues, thank you for the invitation to join you today.  It is an exciting time in Canada’s oil and gas sector and in particular, in the Northwest Territories.  I am honoured to be here representing Government of the Northwest Territories and participating in this panel.

Building capacity to ensure our residents and communities are prepared for development and the effects of that is a major priority for our government.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 27) – The Government of the Northwest Territories welcomes Diavik’s announcement yesterday that they are proceeding with the development of pipe A21.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay noted that the project will bring benefits to local communities that will translate into economic opportunities for residents and businesses across the Northwest Territories.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 27, 2014) – Northwest Territories (NWT) geoscientist Gary Vivian is the first resident North of 60 to receive the Canadian Professional Geoscientist Award from Geoscientists Canada.

Mr. Vivian is the President of Aurora Geosciences Ltd. in Yellowknife and Vice President of the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines.  He has valuable experience and a long career working in Canada’s north.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 26, 2014) – World-class geoscience information will be made available to the public through the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) plans to build a Geological Materials Storage Facility.

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Good evening, everyone.

It is great to be here at the 42nd annual Geoscience Forum and to see how much this event has grown over the years. First of all, I would like to thank the talented Lee Mandeville for his great performance tonight.  I would also like to recognize the Northwest Territories (NWT) and Nunavut Chamber of Mines and staff of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment for organizing this important event each year and for the invitation to speak here tonight.

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Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to Yellowknife and to the 42nd annual Geoscience Forum. I want to thank the Dettah drummers for sharing with us their traditional songs, a welcome start to a conference that always delivers excellent speakers, presentations and more.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 24, 2014) – Two employees of the 60th Parallel Territorial Park have received the 2014 Parks Hospitality Award.  Vi and Eric Bartlett received multiple nominations and were acknowledged for their generosity, friendliness and exceptional service.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 13, 2014) – Northwest Territories businesses and entrepreneurs can use a new online database to obtain information on a variety of funding programs and services from the Government of the Northwest Territories and other governments and agencies. Increased awareness of available financial programs is expected to help NWT businesses to better access financial support.

Mr. Speaker, NWT businesses keep our economy strong, employ local residents and supply us with goods and services. Several NWT businesses have been recognized for their success lately and I would like to take this time to highlight some of them.

Mr. Speaker, with viable markets, a healthy stock of freshwater fish, and growing interest, we are working with our partners and the fishers on Great Slave Lake to breathe new life into the Northwest Territories fishing industry. Today, I am pleased to share with Members some of the steps we are taking to encourage the resurgence of the NWT fishing industry.