Mr. Speaker, today I would like to share with the Members of this Legislative Assembly my reflections as a new Minister of Health and Social Services.
I have spent my first few weeks as Minister receiving a series of comprehensive briefings from both the Department of Health and Social Services and the Health and Social Services Authorities. I have had the opportunity to meet with the Leadership Council, senior management, as well as staff.
Mr. Speaker, today I am very proud to rise and recognize the three deserving individuals that have been recently inducted into the Northwest Territories’ Sport Hall of Fame.
The NWT Sport Hall of Fame was created to celebrate NWT athletes and sport builders who attained a high level of excellence and brought recognition and honour to the Northwest Territories.
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Good evening. On behalf of Premier Cochrane, thank you to the Denendeh Development Corporation for the invitation to address you this evening.
These are early days for our government but I hope you are getting a sense the renewed energy and commitment that we have as an Assembly.
I am happy to say that this government has hit the ground running.
Everyone in this room and our recently elected leaders have a common goal and that is a desire to improve the economic future of our territory.
Mr. Speaker, partnerships between housing stakeholders and community partners is critical in supporting the housing needs of our residents. One such partnership has been between the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, the De Beers Group, and the Yellowknife Women’s Society. Over the last year, all three partners came together to provide 16 single-room semi-independent suites for homeless women.
Mr. Speaker, as the Minister Responsible for Youth, I am proud to speak today about one of our most successful youth initiatives, the NWT Youth Ambassador Program.
From November 14th to the 18th of this year, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs hosted the NWT Youth Ambassador Program orientation and training event in Yellowknife. I was pleased to attend this orientation along with the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Ms. Chinna.
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 19th Legislative Assembly.
R. J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, addressed the inaugural meeting of the Aurora College Transformation Academic Advisory Council (Academic Advisory Council) earlier today. The Academic Advisory Council was created to support and advise the Associate Deputy Minister of Post-Secondary Education Renewal during the transformation of Aurora College to a polytechnic university.
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Good morning.
It’s a pleasure to be here today for the ninth Project Management Conference.
I am excited to be taking part of this conference this year in a different capacity than I have in previous years. In the past, I have been a moderator or participant, but this year I get to be here as the new Minister of the Department of Infrastructure.
Ministerial Travel
Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of November 25, 2019.
· Shane Thompson is attending the Tuyeta Celebration on November 26 in Fort Good Hope, NT.
· Paulie Chinna and Diane Thom are attending Board of Management meetings December 1-4 in Vancouver, BC.
· Caroline Cochrane is attending the Council of Federation for Canada’s Premiers December 1-2 in Toronto, ON.
