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Mr. Speaker, later today, I will be tabling the Mandate of the GNWT 2019-2023. The Mandate will guide our actions as a government and serve to hold Cabinet accountable as we work to advance the priorities of the 19^th Legislative Assembly.

The Northwest Territories faces unprecedented challenges.  We have been elected in a time of global economic uncertainty, increasingly complex social issues, and multifaceted impacts of climate change.

Premier Caroline Cochrane today announced that Dr. Erin Kelly has been named Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) and that Mr. Andy Bevan has been named the Associate Deputy Minister, Post-Secondary Education Renewal, and President of Aurora College.

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Thank you. Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and  Tsleil-Waututht First Nations.

It’s a pleasure to be here today among partners from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and Gwich’in Tribal Council to celebrate a milestone for our local minerals industry.

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Good Morning and thank you for being here.

I’d like to recognize Premier Sandy Silver, Parliamentary Secretary Larry Bagnell and of course our partners with the Yukon, NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines – Anne Turner and Tom Hoefer.

I am happy to be here with each of you for this announcement, and thank you for your efforts to put together this event this morning.

This weekend, Cabinet members, Indigenous governments and Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) officials will head to Vancouver for AME Mineral Roundup – one of Canada’s largest mining conferences.

The19th Legislative Assembly has identified increasing resource exploration and development as a priority.  As Cabinet finalizes their Mandate, participation in this event demonstrates their commitment to the priority and to working in partnership with Indigenous governments and stakeholders to advocate and voice support for this sector.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome all my colleagues to this sitting of the Legislative Assembly. I also want to thank them on behalf of Cabinet and myself for selecting us for the Executive Council. You have chosen a hardworking, strong Cabinet that is committed to working collaboratively with Regular Members in the interest of all residents of the Northwest Territories.

Premier Cochrane and her Cabinet colleagues left a clear message with the NWT mining and exploration sector last week, during the annual Geoscience Forum: increasing resource exploration and development is a priority.

Members of the Executive Council took advantage of numerous opportunities to speak and engage with delegates and visitors of the annual event. Their focus was on establishing relationships with industry and to hear ideas on how to advance the territory’s main economic driver over the term of the 19^th Legislative Assembly.

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It is an honour to be here with everyone to celebrate excellence in mining and exploration.

I would like to recognize the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, the NWT Geological Survey, and the many staff and volunteers who make this event possible each year.

Our government is pleased to be both partner and sponsor of the Annual Yellowknife Geoscience Forum and this evening’s awards. 

All of us here recognize that the history of the Northwest Territories cannot be separated from mining and exploration.

Premier Caroline Cochrane today announced the appointment of Pamela Strand as the Deputy Minister for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI).

Ms. Strand has over 20 years of senior corporate executive leadership experience within both the private and public business sector; she spent 5 years in progressive senior management roles, and has spent the past two and a half years as Assistant Deputy Minister for ITI.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 7, 2019) – Premier Caroline Cochrane today announced the following changes to the senior management of the Northwest Territories public service: