(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.

(October 29. 2013) - Good morning. I’d like to start by acknowledging the Van Horne Institute for their work in organizing this year’s Northern Transportation Conference.

(October 29, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, this Assembly is committed to a goal of healthy, educated people free from poverty.  Improving the health status of the Aboriginal population in the Northwest Territories is one way the Department of Health and Social Services is accomplishing that goal.