(December 6, 2013) - Good evening everyone, and thank you for joining us here at Canada Place this evening.

To many Canadians, the Northwest Territories is the great white north, land of polar bears, snow, ice, and minus 40 temperatures.  But there is so much more to our territory than that.

I have lived in the Northwest Territories for almost two decades, but I never get tired of viewing the Aurora Borealis in the winter skies. I want to share a story with you about one of these times.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 27, 2013) – The GNWT’s collaborative approach to addressing the large number of preventable drownings has been recognized with the Award for Collaborative Excellence from the Canadian Collaborative Centres for Injury Prevention (CCCIP). The award is given every two years to recognize national leadership in injury prevention collaboration.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 21, 2013) – The new Northwest Territories (NWT) Mineral Development Strategy establishes a comprehensive plan to ensure the long-term growth of a sustainable mining industry that will create jobs and economic opportunities for the people of the NWT.

(November 19, 2013) - Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Yellowknife and to the 41^st Geoscience Forum. First of all, I would like to thank the Dettah drummers for their traditional welcome. I would also like to recognize the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines and the NWT Geoscience Office for their continued good work and commitment in hosting and organizing this annual event. And thank you for the invitation and opportunity to speak this afternoon.

Yellowknife (November 12, 2013) – Trapping traditions continue to strengthen as trappers from across the NWT are honoured for their achievements during last year’s season through the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Trapper Recognition Program.

HAY RIVER (November 8, 2013) – The Business Incentive Policy office has now officially moved to Hay River from Yellowknife, creating four jobs in the community and marking an important move in the decentralization of jobs from Headquarters to other Northwest Territories communities.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay greeted the grand opening attendees today and joined Kim Wilkins, new office manager, in cutting the ribbon at the new office location, located on the second floor of the Royal Bank building.

(November 7, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, tourism is a vital industry here in the Northwest Territories.  Of all sectors, tourism presents the greatest likelihood of creating economic opportunities in each Region, especially in the smaller communities.  This is especially true of our Aboriginal tourism sector.  Through the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, the Government of the Northwest Territories has been working with the Aboriginal Tourism Champions Advisory Council to advance and develop Aboriginal tourism in the NWT.

HAY RIVER (November 1, 2013) – Local fishers are breathing new life back into the industry, with nearly one million pounds of fish harvested from Great Slave Lake this season - an increase of 25% over last year.

(October 29, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, shortly after taking office – as we considered the economic opportunities, realities and challenges that lay ahead for our Territory – the 17^th Assembly highlighted the need for a comprehensive strategy to guide our economy though this time of unprecedented political and economic change.  Today I am pleased to inform Members that the Governance Committee has completed an Economic Opportunities Strategy for the NWT, which I will be tabling later today.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 29, 2013) – A new Northwest Territories (NWT) Economic Opportunities Strategy sets out a plan to connect NWT businesses and communities with economic opportunities by fostering a climate for growth, building on success in key sectors, investing in regional diversification and promoting opportunity readiness for people and businesses.