The Minister of Health and Social Services, Glen Abernethy, issued the following statement regarding concerns recently expressed in local media. While the Minister cannot comment with respect to specific individuals, the Minister makes the following general comments:
Mr. Speaker, the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories commits to improving care for our people through integration of the health and social services system. We are working towards building a unified Health and Social Services System that will deliver the best possible care for our residents. We have made significant investments in this work through our system transformation and I am pleased to announce that we are now reaching some important milestones.
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 Tłįchǫ all-season road.
Mr. Speaker, today I provide an overview of how GNWT departments, the Federal Government and the water boards collaborate to ensure high quality drinking water is provided to residents across the Northwest Territories. I also want to highlight some of the innovative work being done to support community drinking water systems.
Mr. Speaker, the film sector offers extraordinary opportunities for NWT residents to share their stories, landscape, and talent across diverse audiences.
Furthermore, the economic multipliers of film production are among the highest of all active industries in the NWT with seven jobs created for every million dollars spent.
Grand Chief, elders, community leaders, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. It is a pleasure to be back in Jean Marie River and to see many familiar faces.
There have been a few changes since the last Dehcho First Nations Annual General Assembly.
A new Liberal government was elected in Ottawa and my brother Michael was elected to represent the Northwest Territories as part of that government. This is the first time in many years that the NWT has been represented by a Member of Parliament that sits on the government side.
Mr. Speaker, as stewards of the land, we have a responsibility to make prudent decisions about how we use, share and protect it in a way that reflects the values and priorities of our residents. This includes the air we breathe. Historically, air emissions and air quality management in the Northwest Territories have been unregulated. The Government of the Northwest Territories is now proceeding to occupy this regulatory field.
Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has made a commitment in its Mandate to finalize the Recreational Land Management Framework and a plan for the Yellowknife periphery area. Engaging with NWT residents while doing this work is critical to making sure public land will be managed in a manner that is transparent, consistent and reflects public values. This has set the tone for the approach that the Department of Lands has taken in developing both a NWT-wide Recreational Land Management Framework, and a recreation management plan for areas around Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories holds a virtually untapped wealth of oil and gas resources. The jobs, income and revenues associated with the responsible development of those resources represent an enormous economic and social development opportunity for the people of the Northwest Territories. Our Government is taking steps to realize those opportunities on behalf of our residents.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in the Mandate to respond to recommendations in the Northwest Territories Environmental Audit for improved environmental management.
