Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has committed to building a strong, prosperous territory and ensuring its benefits are shared in all communities and regions. Strategic investments in transportation infrastructure will help support the long-term growth of our economy and provide jobs and opportunities to our people. The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway is one of these projects and I am pleased to report on the success of the first winter of construction.

YELLOWKNIFE (May 9, 2014) – Minister of Transportation Tom Beaulieu announced today that drivers, commercial carriers and organizations in the NWT can now access several new online driver and motor vehicle services.

Through the Department of Transportation (DOT) online driver and motor vehicle services, NWT residents can now:

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation is now providing residents with the option to access driver and motor vehicle services from the comfort of their homes, workplaces or from anywhere else with an internet connection. Online driver and motor vehicle services are part of the government’s Service Innovation Strategy. Effective and efficient government is achieved by reducing red tape and connecting NWT residents and businesses with the information and services they need.

YELLOWKNIFE (January 30, 2014) – Effective at noon on Friday, January 31, 2014, drivers will access the Ingraham Trail on the newly constructed Highway 4 alignment road. The nearly six kilometres of new road will provide travellers with a safer, more comfortable driving experience.

YELLOWKNIFE (January 10, 2014) – The contract for the Northwest Territories’ largest infrastructure project is to be awarded to a company based in the territory. A notification of acceptance and authorization to begin construction of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk all-weather highway has been issued to EGT-Northwind Ltd., with a formal signing of the $229.3 million contract to follow.

Construction of the highway is expected to be completed by 2018. Construction will take place primarily in the winter months to protect the underlying permafrost.

This is an important day for the Western Arctic, for the Northwest Territories, and for Canada.

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 20, 2013) – Today is the National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims. Transportation Minister Tom Beaulieu says remembering victims of road crashes in the Northwest Territories will help reduce the number of preventable injuries and deaths among our residents, leading to a healthier people.

(November 6, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, effective and efficient government is one of this Assembly’s goals. One of the ways that the Department of Public Works and Services will be helping to support this goal is by hosting the 14^th Project Management Conference from December 3^rd to 5^th. This conference draws together project management experts to share their experiences and discuss best practices and innovative approaches to managing infrastructure projects more efficiently and effectively.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 4, 2013) – With water activities and boating now ended for the season, the Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) reminds residents that drownings can still occur and we all need to make healthy choices to keep ourselves and our families safe.