January 31, 2011 - The Minister of Finance, J. Michael Miltenberger, will present the 2011-12 Budget Address to the 16th Legislative Assembly on Thursday, February 3, 2011, beginning at approximately 1:30 pm.

Prior to the Budget Address, a lock-up is scheduled for accredited media from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the sixth-floor boardroom of the Arthur Laing Building in Yellowknife. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Embargoed copies of the Budget Address, Main Estimates and budget highlights will be provided at the lock-up. Arrangements will be made to courier embargoed copies of the Budget Address and Main Estimates to accredited media outside Yellowknife, on request.

Representatives from the Department of Finance will be available to answer questions of a technical nature.

Minister Miltenberger will join the lock-up for a news conference at 11:30 am. This will be the only opportunity for media to ask the Finance Minister questions on Budget Day. Accredited media from outside of Yellowknife are invited to participate in this news conference via teleconference.

The Budget Address will be available on the Department of Finance website at www.fin.gov.nt.ca immediately following Minister Miltenberger’s address.

Note: Until the Budget Address is delivered at 1:30 pm, all information received in the lock-up will be strictly confidential. Members of the media may quote Minister Miltenberger, but not government officials. Cameras, video-cameras, laptop computers and other recording devices may only be used during the news conference with Minister Miltenberger.

Media wishing to participate in the Budget Day lock-up – either in person or by teleconference – must confirm their attendance with Press Secretary at (867) 669-2302, no later than 5 pm Tuesday, February 1, 2011.

For more information, please contact:

Press Secretary
Office of the Premier/Cabinet
Government of the Northwest Territories
Phone: (867) 669-2302