(November 19, 2013) - Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Yellowknife and to the 41^st Geoscience Forum. First of all, I would like to thank the Dettah drummers for their traditional welcome. I would also like to recognize the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines and the NWT Geoscience Office for their continued good work and commitment in hosting and organizing this annual event. And thank you for the invitation and opportunity to speak this afternoon.

(November 7, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, tourism is a vital industry here in the Northwest Territories.  Of all sectors, tourism presents the greatest likelihood of creating economic opportunities in each Region, especially in the smaller communities.  This is especially true of our Aboriginal tourism sector.  Through the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, the Government of the Northwest Territories has been working with the Aboriginal Tourism Champions Advisory Council to advance and develop Aboriginal tourism in the NWT.

(November 6, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, effective and efficient government is one of this Assembly’s goals. One of the ways that the Department of Public Works and Services will be helping to support this goal is by hosting the 14^th Project Management Conference from December 3^rd to 5^th. This conference draws together project management experts to share their experiences and discuss best practices and innovative approaches to managing infrastructure projects more efficiently and effectively.

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.

(November 4, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to commemorate Remembrance Day, I am pleased to confirm the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is designating a section of Highway 1, from the Alberta border to Enterprise, as the NWT Highway of Heroes.  This designation will serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Northern soldiers, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical and rescue personnel, and other first responders who have died in the line of duty.

(November 4, 2013) - Please be seated.

Speaker Jacobson, Premier McLeod, Members of the Legislative Assembly, ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to be here today to open the Fifth Session of the 17^th Legislative Assembly.

(November 1, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of our employees is of utmost importance in ensuring we have a strong workforce, able to provide services to residents of the NWT.  We have been working aggressively to uphold and enhance occupational health and safety across all Government of the Northwest Territories’ worksites.

(October 31, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, improving the delivery of programs and services, especially to residents of smaller, remote communities, is an important goal for our government. Later this fiscal year the Department of Transportation will be providing residents with the option to access driver and motor vehicle services from the comfort of their homes, workplaces or from anywhere else with an internet connection.

(October 31, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, educational change, without question, is one of the most critical initiatives we must enact in the NWT.  The Education Renewal and Innovation initiative has been underway for approximately a year, and we are seeing some exciting directions emerge for true foundational change.

(October 30, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update the House on the progress being made to advance the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway project.  This winter, we plan to begin constructing the final link between the NWT Highway system and the Arctic coast community of Tuktoyaktuk.  This all-weather highway will be constructed in one of Canada’s most challenging environments.