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Thank you for inviting me to speak today. I am always pleased to support northern businesses in their partnerships to strengthen and diversify our economy.

Effective search and rescue services are critical for Northerners. We are still waiting to hear from the federal government about the requirements for basing that will be part of their new contract. I am hopeful that one of the requirements will be to have dedicated search and rescue resources in the Northwest Territories.  Locating enhanced search and rescue capacity here in Yellowknife would be a benefit to the people of this city and the whole Northwest Territories.

The Northwest Territories is many hours from the nearest dedicated rescue facility. Whenever I say that to people, they’re surprised. They know how harsh our climate is. In any search and rescue situation, every minute counts. That’s especially true during our northern winters. Northerners are Canadians too. We shouldn’t be penalized because of where we live. Any proposal that could improve search and rescue response time in the North is a good proposal in my eyes.

And improved search and rescue capacity, such as what this partnership could offer, will be particularly important as our economy continues to grow and develop. We’re seeing a lot of activity in the Northwest Territories, especially with the world-class oil and gas play in the Sahtu. Tourism is on the rise again. This is the time to be in the north. And this is the time to make sure that the right search and rescue resources are within easy reach of our communities and our people.

I meet with the prime minister from time to time. He’s very interested in Canada’s north. He talks about Arctic sovereignty quite a lot. I always tell him that you cannot have sovereignty from a distance. We must work together to secure our borders. And I’m not only talking about the military.

Arctic sovereignty isn’t just about boots on the ground. It’s about sustainable, vibrant communities. Our people are Arctic sovereignty. Our communities need strategic investment to be strong. None of us can do this alone. The territorial government, the federal government, industry: we all need to work together to realise our northern potential.

Ensuring the safety of our people – particularly when they are traveling on the land, sea or rivers – is a key part of sustaining our communities and Canada’s presence in the North. Residents and visitors alike need to be confident that if an emergency arises, they will receive protection and support. I’d like to urge the federal government to seriously consider any proposal which could enhance search and rescue capacity in our territory.

Investments in Canada’s north have the potential to pay huge dividends for all of us.  We all have so much to gain.

Northerners are the embodiment of Canada’s Arctic sovereignty. Northerners must be supported in building communities where we can live healthy lives with opportunities for employment, education and training. We are here. We will build a future for ourselves and our children.

Thank you.