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Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT has been very successful in building strong partnerships with Indigenous governments over the life of this government, because we have cultivated collaborative relationships with them. This is particularly important with the large amounts of distinctions-based funding that flows directly from the Government of Canada to NWT Indigenous governments for their housing priorities.
The Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) new Commercial Fishery Support Pilot Program (CFSP) is now accepting applications. This funding program is part of the GNWT’s ongoing strategy to support Northwest Territories (NWT) fishers and to revitalize the territory’s commercial fishery by helping to defer costs, supplement prices, and encourage recruitment and innovation.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is seeking input on two post-secondary education institution applications to deliver diploma-granting programs in the territory. College of Northern Canada is applying to provide a Global Tourism Management diploma program and Global Logistics diploma program within the Northwest Territories beginning in January 2024.
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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize this year’s historic wildfire season, the challenges faced by so many NWT residents and others across Canada, and the heroic efforts of firefighters and emergency management personnel to protect our communities.
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Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to update the Legislative Assembly on the Government of the Northwest Territories’ fiscal situation since the tabling of the 2023-2024 Budget. It goes without saying that this has been an extraordinarily difficult financial year not only for the government but for many Northwest Territories’ residents and businesses.
Despite the challenges, our actions to address fiscal pressures combined with federal disaster assistance means that our fiscal outlook remains stable over the medium term.
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Mr. Speaker, three years ago, this government set a mandate to increase employment in small communities. Since then, meaningful progress has been made.
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Mr. Speaker, delivering the energy Northerners need, in our climate and in a territory as large as the NWT, is challenging. We must constantly maintain and improve the territory’s energy systems so our people and businesses have the energy they need when they need it.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has made changes to the Business Stream of the Northwest Territories Nominee Program to decrease the eligible investment amount and to make it easier for applicants to start a business in the territory and secure permanent residence in Canada.
Effective as of August 2, 2023, the investment amounts needed to join the program have decreased.
The Addictions Prevention and Recovery Services Work Plan is producing results since it was released in February this year. The Work Plan identifies 24 action items to continue the work of building a strong continuum of coordinated and easily accessible addictions supports for residents. It responds to recommendations by the Auditor General of Canada delivered in 2022.
To date 29% of the action items in the Work Plan have been completed.
The completed action items include:
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is seeking input on a post-secondary education institution application to deliver a diploma-granting program in the territory. Trent University is applying to provide an Indigenous Environmental Studies and Sciences diploma program within the Northwest Territories starting in Fall 2023.
