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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.

SHANGHAI, CHINA (September 18, 2012) -- Premier Bob McLeod spoke at the Shanghai Tourism Bureau yesterday and at a Canadian Tourism Commission event in Beijing on Friday to promote the NWT as a spectacular destination for Chinese visitors.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 17, 2012) -- Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay has given his support to the multi-lateral Growing Forward 2 Agreement for Agriculture. This sets the stage for bilateral negotiations to take place between the federal and territorial governments on a new five-year joint funding agreement for agriculture in the NWT. Ministers of Agriculture and Agri-foods met in Whitehorse last week.

BEIJING, CHINA (September 14, 2012) – Premier McLeod spoke at the Canada China Business Council today as part of a premiers’ panel to encourage foreign investment in the territory’s mining, oil and gas, and hydro industries.

I am pleased to be here in Beijing to speak to the Canada China Business Council about investment opportunities in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

The Northwest Territories economy has been built on luxury items – furs, gold and now diamonds. From the earliest days, our trappers provided beautiful, thick furs to buyers all over the world. They still do that. Wild fur from the Northwest Territories is of excellent quality and always in high demand at fur auctions. That makes us an ideal source of fur to supply China’s world leading fur garment industry.