Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to advise Members of this Assembly that our Government will be signing a Transboundary Water Management Agreement with British Columbia for the shared waters of the Liard and Petitot Basins.

This Agreement, the second one to be signed with an upstream jurisdiction this year, is another step in ensuring the waters of the Northwest Territories remain clean, abundant and productive for all time. 

Mr. Speaker, transportation infrastructure and services are important to our residents, communities, businesses and our future.  I am pleased to provide an update on three key highway corridor initiatives in progress in the NWT.

In June, the Department tabled Connecting Us, a 25-year Transportation Strategy focusing on all modes of transportation in the NWT and highlighting our transportation challenges and opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, building a strong and sustainable future for the Northwest Territories by strengthening our relationships with Aboriginal governments has been one of the key priorities of the 17^th Legislative Assembly. For the past four years, our government has worked to strengthen our partnerships with Aboriginal governments.

Mr. Speaker, in June 2015 the Department of Transportation tabled our multi-modal Transportation Strategy, entitled “Connecting Us”.  The Strategy defines the challenges and opportunities related to improving road, air, marine and rail services for residents, communities and businesses across the NWT over the next 25 years.  I am pleased to report that the Department is implementing the updated Transportation Strategy and making substantial progress under the three key strategic initiatives:  Strengthening Connections; Capturing Opportunities; and Embracing Innovation.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, or NTPC, continues to adapt and manage its resources to meet the needs of the ever-changing environment of power generation in the North.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling the Skills 4 Success 10-Year Strategic Framework. This Framework capitalizes on the skills, knowledge and talents of the people of the Northwest Territories, the number one resource behind our economy and sustainable communities.

Mr. Speaker, throughout the term of the 17^th Legislative Assembly and guided by 20/20: A Brilliant North, the NWT Public Service Strategic Plan, this government has made it a priority to ensure that the public service is prepared to meet the needs of Northerners now and in the future.

Mr. Speaker, the North has a long history and a rich heritage with numerous languages and cultures. Our people work to preserve, revitalize and celebrate all aspects of their cultures and languages, which continually grow and evolve.   

In 2014, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment began work on a government-wide 10-year Culture and Heritage Strategic Framework. This Framework aligns the existing culture and heritage work of the government around a shared vision, goals and priorities. It is a cultural lens and guide for government initiatives until 2025.

Mr. Speaker, the number of new cancer cases in the Northwest Territories is expected to rise dramatically by 2030.  According to Canadian Cancer Statistics 2015, a report released by the Canadian Cancer Society earlier this year, the number of new cancer cases in all of the Territories will increase by approximately 60 per cent within the next 15 years, largely due to an anticipated increase in the seniors’ population.

Mr. Speaker, Fort Smith has a long history of supporting correctional facilities located within their community.  As a result, inmates in these facilities have had the benefit of community acceptance as they work through their rehabilitation process and make plans for release.  For the adult female offenders housed in Fort Smith, this community support has been especially beneficial in their rehabilitation process.