Mr. Speaker, our world-class tourism industry offers the greatest opportunity we have to grow diversity in our economy.
As we approach April 1st, the budget proposed for the next year fiscal year reflects this. It contains nearly $6.3 million in contributions and program funding to support our tourism industry; an increase of $800 thousand dollars from 2018-2019.
Mr. Speaker, municipal elections were held in nine hamlet communities in the Northwest Territories on December 10, 2018. There were 71 candidates in total, vying for 46 available seats. I am pleased with the large number of candidates, as this indicates there is keen interest in local government and that individuals want to serve as leaders and decision-makers for their community.
Mr. Speaker, we are making significant progress in meeting this government’s mandate commitments to strengthen the Northwest Territories postsecondary education system.
I am pleased to advise that the drafting of legislation to govern postsecondary education in the NWT is nearing completion. The proposed legislation will create, for the first time, a process to ensure the effective governance and quality assurance of all postsecondary institutions operating in the territory.
Ministerial Travel
Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of February 25, 2019.
The Minister of Health and Social Services has released the 2019 NWT Patient Experience Questionnaire. The Questionnaire is available in both print and online formats.
The Questionnaire is designed to assist the Department of Health and Social Services to understand the quality of care we are providing. Responses help the Department improve services and monitor progress over time.
Across Canada, March is Nutrition Month, and this year, dietitians are helping Canadians realize the potential for food to improve health, fuel activities, and bring people together.
Premier Bob McLeod and Caroline Cochrane, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment today announced the appointment of Dr. Thomas Weegar as the Associate Deputy Minister of Postsecondary Education for the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT).
Mr. Speaker, over the past 15 years, the Government of the Northwest Territories has worked in partnership with the federal government to help meet the infrastructure needs of community governments. These efforts have helped community governments access federal funding, in accordance with our current mandate commitment in this area.
Mr. Speaker, securing funding to advance planning and construction of new transportation corridors is a key commitment in this government’s mandate. These transformative projects help to connect communities, support employment and training opportunities, increase our resiliency to climate change, and create new social and economic opportunities.
Today, I am pleased to provide an update on the Tłı̨chǫ All-Season Road project, an exciting new 97-kilometre highway that will provide year-round access to Whatı̀ from Highway No. 3.
Mr. Speaker, a few months ago I had the pleasure of signing the Bilateral Agreement between the Northwest Territories and Canada on the National Housing Strategy. One of the first funding allocations Canada proposed under the Strategy was the Northern Housing Fund, which brought $36 million in funding to the Northwest Territories. However, this is just a starting point.
