Mr. Speaker, building strong working relationships with Aboriginal governments has been a personal priority of mine and of this Assembly. Our ability to work together in the spirit of respect, recognition and responsibility is what enables us to serve the common interest of all the people of this territory and will be the foundation for the successful implementation of devolution.

Mr. Speaker, retirement planning is key to all of our residents’ personal financial health. Our government is committed to helping them make the choices that are right for them to build their own strong, sustainable future.

Mr. Speaker, as of April 1^st we are finally going to have legislative authority over water, excluding the offshore, in our Territory.

This is major step forward for the people of the Northwest Territories as water binds us together. We share with all NWT residents the desire to safeguard our water resources for current and future generations.

New responsibilities assumed by Environment and Natural Resources under the new NWT Waters Act will enable us to do this.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak today on the Department of Lands’ role in the new Regulatory Regime in the Northwest Territories post-Devolution. The NWT Devolution of Lands and Resources Agreement will bring significant changes to the Northwest Territories. The Department of Lands has a key role in ensuring that the sustainable use of public land reflects the priorities and values of Northerners.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes that our future prosperity is heavily dependent on the responsible development of our abundant natural resources. On April 1, 2014, our government will be assuming new responsibilities for the administration of public lands, resources and rights in respect of waters.

Mr. Speaker, culture and language support our identity and help strengthen the common goals of NWT communities. I am pleased to announce that, through the work of the Department of Human Resources, the Government of the Northwest Territories is now able to offer Certificates of Recognition to our employees in each of the 11 Official Languages of the Northwest Territories. Certificates of Recognition are presented to employees who have shown dedication and commitment to the public service and include both long service and retirement.

Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories addiction to drugs or alcohol is the number one issue facing many northern inmates. The Department of Justice is taking steps to enhance addictions programs through the Corrections Service.

Mr. Speaker, our government is in the final stages of entering into a Memorandum of Agreement with our federal counterparts that will see Northerners servicing RCMP assets in the Northwest Territories.

In the past, the federal government’s southern contractor arranged services for the operations, maintenance and minor renovation of RCMP houses, detachments and other assets. There are 112 RCMP facilities in 24 communities. With the contract due for renewal, we saw the opportunity for a more economical alternative.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak on the topic of child and family services. The 16^th Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Social Programs undertook a comprehensive review of the Child and Family Services Act, highlighting the importance of this area and the need for fundamental change in how we do business.

YELLOWKNIFE (February 24, 2014) – The new Land Use and Sustainability Framework is a critical piece of the legislative and policy framework that will guide the Government of the Northwest Territories’ decisions as it takes on new responsibilities for regulating public land, water and resources in the Northwest Territories.