Mr. Speaker, I rise today to report positive results and trends from this government’s investments and initiatives in the NWT tourism sector.

The official tourism statistics for the last fiscal year will be available in late October but the preliminary results are promising.  We are seeing a broad spectrum of interest in the tourism activities available in the Northwest Territories. In particular, the segment of visitors from China, who are commonly associated with aurora viewing, are exploring well beyond this sector.  

Mr. Speaker, it isn’t very often we can say that weather forecasters were spot-on with their projections, however this fire season it seems they got it right. 

Mr. Speaker, there is immense oil and gas potential in our territory and this government is committed to establishing the tools and resources with which it can be developed in a balanced and responsible way.  We are also committed to ensuring that Members of the Legislative Assembly, the public, Aboriginal leaders, and other stakeholders have a role to play in the development of those tools and resources.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to update Members on our fiscal situation and the challenges that Members of the next Assembly will be facing.

Mr. Speaker, each year on the last Sunday of September, Canada salutes the men and women who put their lives on the line every day in their role as police and peace officers.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this final opportunity to welcome Members back to the Legislative Assembly. This will be the last sitting of the 17^th Legislative Assembly, and while our time together will soon be drawing to a close, the work that we began here does not end.

The successes we have achieved and the plans and strategies we have put into action – all of which depended on the input and support of Members – will continue, helping to shape the future of this territory according to the vision and priorities we first set out four years ago.

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Good afternoon, everyone, it is great to be here today.

Thank you to the NWT Chamber of Commerce for hosting such a superb event and for the invitation to participate. The Chamber continues to be a valuable contributor to our efforts to create a sustainable and prosperous mineral industry for our territory.  

I am looking forwarding to Pierre Gratton’s presentation on behalf of the Mining Association of Canada and believe it will give us much food for thought. 

Dear Bob Mcleod, Premier of the Northwest Territories,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening!

It’s my first visit to the Northwest Territories. I would like to express my thanks for the kind hospitality and sound arrangements by the local governments and Bob, my respected friend. Just as Bob said, I indeed feel honored to be the first Ambassador of China to Canada who pays a solo official visit to your Territories.

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Good Evening,

Your Excellency Ambassador Luo, Consul General Wang, Hon. Robert R. McLeod, Premier, Members of the Legislative Assembly, distinguished guests and Ladies and Gentlemen.

My name is David Ramsay and I’m the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. 

It is my pleasure to be your MC for this evening.