Check against delivery

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you for having me here to deliver the keynote address. I would like to congratulate you on the election of a new Board of Directors who I had the pleasure of meeting yesterday. 

With a combination of new and returning board members, you have identified a strong mix of experience and enthusiasm.  The oversight and guidance this board will provide will be a key component to the continued growth of our tourism industry over the next year.  

Mr. Speaker, the tourism industry offers enormous potential to create economic growth and diversification in our regions and communities.  

In fact, while other sectors around the world are experiencing challenges, the Northwest Territories tourism sector continues to grow.

Between 2010-2011 and 2015-2016, the number of visitors to our territory has increased from 65,000 to 93,000. Visitor spending in this timeframe has also increased from $94.1 million to $167.1 million.

Yellowknife, le 2 novembre 2016 — Le ministère de l’Industrie, du Tourisme et de l’Investissement (MITI) a dévoilé le Programme des champions du tourisme autochtone, qui servira à motiver la création et le développement d’authentiques produits de tourisme culturel dans l’ensemble des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (TNO).

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories’ economy is built on mining and exploration.  Today our mining sector is the largest provider of high paying jobs and the main driver of the territorial economy.

We have committed, in our mandate, to supporting mineral exploration and the NWT mining sector with actions and investments identified in the NWT Mineral Development Strategy. 

Our goal is to realize all the benefits of our mineral resources to support ongoing prosperity for NWT residents and communities.

Mr. Speaker, as investment and residency in the NWT grow, we will be able to expand and diversify our economy outside of its resource sector, in areas like tourism, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and the traditional economies.

While the GNWT is working to create investor confidence in the NWT, we are also investing to diversify our economy and to grow our communities.

Mr. Speaker, film, video, and digital media are at the centre of a growing and dynamic industry in the NWT, driving both cultural and economic opportunities and contributing almost $9.7 million to the NWT’s GDP.

This sector also provides opportunities for employment and self-employment with an estimated 24 film companies and 106 full-time equivalent jobs existing in the NWT today.

Yellowknife, le 19 octobre 2016 – Les résidents des Territoires du Nord‑Ouest (TNO) qui souhaitent accroître leur connaissance et leur expérience de l’industrie touristique peuvent maintenant soumettre leur candidature pour participer à l’un ou l’autre de deux programmes de mentorat en tourisme.

Mr. Speaker, this is Small Business Week in Canada.

With over 90 percent of the NWT’s business being defined as small businesses, this important sector provides employment opportunities for our people, the economic diversity to balance the ups and down of the resource economy and makes our communities great places to live.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment helps create the economic environment NWT entrepreneurs and small business owners need to invest, take risks and prosper.

Yellowknife, le 19 octobre 2016 – Le public est invité à participer à une série d’événements gratuits sur l’agriculture à Yellowknife en compagnie d’invités de renom.

Notamment à l’affiche :

Yellowknife, le 7 octobre 2016 – Le gouvernement des Territoires du Nord‑Ouest (GTNO) a publié les statistiques sur le nombre de touristes et les dépenses effectuées par les touristes pour l’année 2015‑2016. Le nombre de touristes égale le plus grand nombre jamais atteint, et les dépenses qu’ils effectuent dépassent largement l’ancien record.