Mr. Speaker, the tourism industry offers opportunities for economic development throughout all regions of the Northwest Territories, and federal funding can support this growing and vibrant industry. 

Mr. Speaker, communities have worked with the RCMP to develop policing priorities and action plans that designate specific priorities to make our communities safer. I would like to share with Members how this collaboration is making a difference in our communities. 

Mr. Speaker, Great Slave Lake is the every-day workplace of a proud community of northern fishers who work tirelessly to harvest some of the best tasting fish in Canada – and deliver it year round to the marketplace. 

Great Slave Lake represents a huge and sustainable resource. The product offerings are excellent and the stock is healthy and well managed.  Yet, most of the fish available to NWT residents in grocery stores and on restaurant menus is imported from southern Canada or elsewhere. 

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Lands has made significant progress since taking over the management of public land in the Northwest Territories as part of Devolution last April.

Much of the Department’s progress to date has been due to the hard work of its employees. While about 75 percent of our positions were filled by existing federal and GNWT staff when Devolution came into effect, the remainder of the Department’s positions had to be staffed.

Mr. Speaker, in January the Premier and I led a second trade mission of NWT business representatives and government officials to China and Japan. Our delegation included NWT tour operators, partners in our fur and fashion industries, and a member of our territory’s diamond manufacturing sector Ms. Verda Law, of Yellowknife Tours, Mr. Ragnar Wesstrom of Enodah Wilderness Adventures, Mr. Hideo Nagatani from Aurora Village, Mr. Andrew Stanley, a trapper from Hay River, Mr. Fernando Alvarez of Jacques Cartier Clothing and Mr. Dylan Dix of Crossworks Manufacturing. 

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the Government of the Northwest Territories and its Single Window Service Center model has been recognized for its innovative management by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada or known as IPAC.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to update Members on some recent activities of the Department of Public Works and Services with regards to fuel prices in communities served by its Petroleum Products Division. 

Recent changes in the market have seen oil prices go from all-time highs to record lows over the past year. This current market pricing has provided the Petroleum Products Division with an opportunity to lower its costs and pass on these savings to residents. 

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise Members of this House that starting on June 1, 2015, the minimum wage in the Northwest Territories is going up.

The minimum wage in the NWT will increase from $10.00 per hour to $12.50 per hour, making it the highest in Canada today. This is the first increase to the minimum wage in the Northwest Territories since 2011. 

Introduction

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.