Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes the need to advance the territorial vision of land and resource management in accordance with the Land Use and Sustainability Framework and we have made a mandate commitment to evolve our legislative, regulatory and policy systems by developing and proposing a variety of Acts including a Mineral Resources Act.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to update Members on our government’s recent work on cannabis public education and community health engagement.
Northerners have told us that they want more evidence-based, culturally relevant information on the health effects of cannabis. In response to that call, the Department of Health and Social Services has been working in partnership with other Departments and agencies, as well as the federal government, to ensure that NWT residents have access to the information and resources they need in order to make informed choices.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories made a mandate commitment during this Legislative Assembly to continue to develop and advance initiatives to displace diesel generation in the NWT including advancing the Taltson Hydroelectricity Expansion project.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present the 2019-20 Budget for the Government of the Northwest Territories. This Budget continues to invest in our people and our territory to achieve, as set out in the very first sentence of the 18th Legislative Assembly mandate, our vision of a territory where all our people, communities and regions share in the benefits of a healthy, just, sustainable and prosperous society.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome Members back for the continuation of the Third Session of the Legislative Assembly.
We are now into the final months of the 18th Legislative Assembly, and Ministers and Members have been working hard together to create a better territory for our residents, one in which all people have the support and opportunities they need to be healthy and economically secure, while maintaining their connection to a sustainable and well-managed environment.
Check Against Delivery
Good Morning and thank you to those of who you have joined us this morning.
The message this morning is that Northerners support the responsible development of our resources. Mining has played a large part in the history of the Northwest Territories and our residents know how vital this sector has been, and will continue to be in our territory.
Check Against Delivery
Good morning everyone.
Before I begin, I would first like to acknowledge that we all have the privilege of attending AME Roundup on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and tSLAY-wah-tooth First Nations.
Good afternoon and thank-you, for being here today.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome Minister LeBlanc and his team to the Northwest Territories.
As Minister Leblanc mentioned, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada have a special relationship.
It is important to any jurisdiction to have good partnerships with Canada, and particularly for the NWT, your commitment to work with us to address the issues that affect Northerners are essential and we look forward to many more visits in the future.
It is good to be with you here today, and I want to thank Darrell Beaulieu for inviting me to join you at this NWT Indigenous Leaders Economic Forum.
Thank you. I’m pleased to be here with you today to talk about investment and economic development opportunities in the Northwest Territories that I believe are in the national interest.
Today’s discussion is a continuation of the national discussion about the future of the North that I kicked off when I issued my “red alert” in Ottawa a little over a year ago.
At the time, I was very concerned that southern Canada and the federal government were taking the Northwest Territories economy for granted.
