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Good afternoon to all of you here today and thank you for the invitation to speak to you on the last day of this conference.

We have a world of opportunity within our grasp – now, more than ever, is the time to pave the way to that opportunity, or the “Pathway to Prosperity” as this event is so aptly themed.

NORMAN WELLS (October 11, 2012) -- The beginning of fall marks the end of harvest season in the Northwest Territories, and this year backyard gardeners and commercial operators alike are enjoying a colourful bounty, with great harvests reported across the territory.

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Thank you for the opportunity to speak – and congratulations to the organizers for putting together another successful edition of this long running conference.

We have come a long way since Meet the North was first originated in part to introduce the north and its potential to potential investors in southern Canada.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 27, 2012) -- The Yellowknife Film Festival kicks off tonight, and Minister David Ramsay will be in attendance – in film form – to give his congratulations to Western Arctic Moving Pictures and the NWT Professional Media Association on behalf of the NWT Film Commission. The NWT Film Commission will also be a panel member at the first-ever NWT Filmmaker and Producer Forum, to provide information about the commission and discuss what has been achieved in the past year.

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Mayor Johnson, MLA Norman Yakeleya, Chiefs, Presidents and Community leaders, ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you this afternoon. In addition to my responsibilities as Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, I am also the Minister of Transportation.

So I would like to start with a story that has its basis – not in oil and gas – but in aviation.

NORMAN WELLS (September 26, 2012) -- The Sahtu Exploration Readiness Session is taking place in Norman Wells this week, with over 100 representatives from industry, government, Aboriginal organizations and corporations, community leaders and small business in attendance to discuss and identify the best ways to prepare for the boom in exploration that will take place in the region over the coming years.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 25, 2012) -- Northwest Territories Arts Week is from September 22 to 30 and is a celebration of the contribution that the NWT arts and fine crafts community makes to our territory.   “Artisans make significant cultural and economic contributions to communities across the territory and showcase the NWT as a place of artistic excellence,” said Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) David Ramsay.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 25, 2012) -- Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur sales totaled over $1.5 million this year, the highest in over 20 years. This is an increase of over 25% in the last year, and is a result of increased demand from buyers in China, Russia, Greece and Turkey.

HONG KONG, CHINA (September 20, 2012) – Premier Bob McLeod, MLA Robert Hawkins, Chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, and the NWT business delegation met with potential Chinese investors and business partners to discuss ways to diversify the NWT economy and keep the territory prosperous. The meetings have focused on the potential for developing the Chinese markets for the NWT’s wild fur, oil and gas.

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I am pleased to be here to talk to you about tourism opportunities in Canada and in the Northwest Territories. I would like to thank the Canadian Tourism Commission for organizing this event and for the work it does to help promote Canada as a tourism destination around the world and especially here in China.