Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to update the people of the Northwest Territories on the status of the barren-ground caribou and the condition of the various herds.

During this past summer we were able to complete full surveys on the Cape Bathurst, Tuk Peninsula and Bathurst herds.  A partial survey of the Bluenose-West herd was also done.  Surveys of the Bluenose-East and Porcupine caribou herds could not be done due to weather conditions.  Surveys are planned for both these herds next summer.

 Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform Members and the public that the Deh Cho Bridge will officially open on November 30^th.

Mr. Speaker, the film and media arts industry makes a positive economic and cultural impact on our Territory.  It provides employment and learning opportunities for our residents, provides a venue for our talented filmmakers to showcase their work and draws outside production companies to the Northwest Territories to create memorable films that use our rugged landscape as a backdrop.  

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is dedicated to providing relevant and necessary programming to suit the needs of our adult learners. 

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of our term, the 17^th Assembly set a goal of an efficient and effective government.

This was clear direction, and we followed it. In June, I tabled the Department of Justice 10-Year Strategic Plan and I committed to bring forward a 5-year implementation strategy during this session. Later today I will table that document.

While the Strategic Plan outlines the Department’s vision, goals and priorities, the 5-year implementation strategy is the roadmap for how we are going to get there.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update Members on the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway project.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update Members on homeownership clients that have direct mortgages with the NWT Housing Corporation and steps we are taking to work in partnership with these clients to ensure they are able to provide their families with affordable, adequate and suitable housing, while meeting their responsibilities as homeowners.

Mr. Speaker, in 2011, the Auditor General of Canada recommended improvements to the Department’s ability to evaluate and report on performance.  Specifically, the Auditor General recommended that we implement system-wide indicators, develop a program evaluation plan for the health and social services system, and regularly inform this Assembly about the performance of the system. Mr. Speaker, later today, I will table the first Annual Report on the Strategic Plan. 

Mr. Speaker, when we meet here in the Legislative Assembly we often talk about the opportunities for our communities and residents provided through the GNWT’s infrastructure programs. However, today I would like to bring your attention to work that the Department of Public Works and Services is doing as part of the GNWT’s environmental remediation program, and the opportunities that this work is creating for our smaller communities.

Mr. Speaker, later today at the appropriate time, I will table a public discussion paper entitled,, “A Vision for Energy in the Northwest Territories: Developing the 2013 Northwest Territories Energy Plan”. .  This paper is the first component of a multi-step process that will lead to the development the 2013 Energy Plan.