Mr. Speaker, housing costs are a major component of the cost of living, which we all know is very high here in the Northwest Territories. Bringing those costs down is a priority. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation will be putting out a housing engagement survey that will help us find out how we can design and deliver programs that better meet people’s housing needs.

Mr. Speaker, as investment and residency in the NWT grow, we will be able to expand and diversify our economy outside of its resource sector, in areas like tourism, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and the traditional economies.

While the GNWT is working to create investor confidence in the NWT, we are also investing to diversify our economy and to grow our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to update the Members on how the Governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories are making investments in our communities that will bring economic opportunities for residents and businesses and revitalize municipal infrastructure. 

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to capture opportunities for investment in transportation infrastructure by working to secure funding to advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway, make an all-weather road from Highway No. 3 to Whati and improve access into the Slave Geological Province. Today I would like to provide an update on the progress made by the Department on these projects, where work continues to steadily advance.

Mr. Speaker, from a statistical perspective, 2016 was a below average fire season. A total of 188 wildland fires were reported in the 2016 fire season, burning 229,000 hectares. As a comparison, there were 241 fires and 622,000 hectares burned in 2015. That is half the number of hectares burned in 2016 than in 2015, and 50 fewer fires.

Of the 188 fires this year, 16 fires are suspected person-caused.  The Department provided some type of action on 83 fires, or 44%. In addition, 292 Extra Fire Fighters were hired in the NWT for training or in support of wildland fire operations.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year the Government of the Northwest Territories took part in a national business satisfaction survey, known as “Taking Care of Business”.  The survey is administered independently, by the Institute for Citizen-Centered Service.

Between January and June 2016, more than 200 NWT businesses were surveyed, to get feedback on government service delivery.  The results will help government identify priorities for improving service to business.

Mr. Speaker, film, video, and digital media are at the centre of a growing and dynamic industry in the NWT, driving both cultural and economic opportunities and contributing almost $9.7 million to the NWT’s GDP.

This sector also provides opportunities for employment and self-employment with an estimated 24 film companies and 106 full-time equivalent jobs existing in the NWT today.

Mr. Speaker, this Government is committed to finding new ways to make it easier for NWT residents to acquire the skills and training they need to get good jobs and to connect employers to trained and qualified employees. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment plays a key role in this by focusing on fostering lifelong learning, skills development, training, and employability. That includes expanding opportunities for trades-oriented learning, while also enhancing our communications, service delivery, and way of doing business.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I committed to reviewing the 2008 Ministerial Directive – Enrolment of Students in French First Language Programs. In conducting our review, we undertook a comprehensive engagement process targeting the rights holder population in the North. A total of 140 people responded either to our survey, attended a session in Hay River, or attended a session in Yellowknife. We reviewed legislation, current GNWT policies, and the responses from the stakeholder engagements and survey and conducted a jurisdictional scan.

Mr. Speaker, this is Small Business Week in Canada.

With over 90 percent of the NWT’s business being defined as small businesses, this important sector provides employment opportunities for our people, the economic diversity to balance the ups and down of the resource economy and makes our communities great places to live.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment helps create the economic environment NWT entrepreneurs and small business owners need to invest, take risks and prosper.