YELLOWKNIFE (October 30, 2014) – In response to media interest about Japanese tourism statistics and activities in the Northwest Territories, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is providing the attached information.

Questions related to ongoing search efforts for missing Japanese tourist, Atsumi Yoshikubo, should be directed to the Yellowknife RCMP.

Media inquiries:

YELLOWKNIFE (October 29, 2014) – Northerners were recognized for promoting and preserving NWT culture and heritage atthe 2014 Minister’s Culture and Heritage Circle awards ceremony hosted by Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty today.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 28, 2014) – The Government of the Northwest Territories is responding to numbers released by Yellowknife Catholic Schools (YCS) and the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1) last week showing the apparent cost of Junior Kindergarten (JK) and its impact on their schools. The boards’ press release contained critical factual errors that risk adding to the existing confusion about the implementation of JK in Yellowknife.

FORT PROVIDENCE (October 24, 2014) – Minister of Environment and Natural Resources J. Michael Miltenberger signed a Forest Management Agreement (FMA) for the community of Fort Providence today with Digaa Enterprises Limited President Michael Vandell and Director James Christie. Deh Gah Got’ie First Nation Chief Joachim Bonnetrouge, Fort Providence Métis President Clifford McLeod, Premier Bob McLeod and MLA Michael Nadli signed as witnesses. The FMA will provide business, employment and training opportunities in the forest industry for residents of Fort Providence.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 23, 2014) – Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay today issued a call for nominations for oil and gas development on Territorial Reserve Lands north of 60° in the Central Mackenzie Valley and the Mackenzie Delta/Arctic Islands. All Aboriginal sub-surface lands established pursuant to land claim agreements are excluded.

All nominations must be received by 4:00 p.m. (MST) on November 21, 2014.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 21, 2014) – Minister of Lands Robert C. McLeod announced today that the Government of the Northwest Territories is beginning work to develop a Recreational Land Management Framework for the Northwest Territories.

“Northerners have told us that they care about environmental sustainability and also want more opportunities to lease land near communities for recreational use,” said Minister McLeod. “Now that devolution has taken place, we need to ensure recreational leasing throughout the territory meets northern needs and priorities.”

YELLOWKNIFE (October 20, 2014) – October 19-26 marks Small Business Week in Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is highlighting services and programs available to local businesses.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 20, 2014) – Minister of Justice David Ramsay joined his federal, provincial and territorial colleagues in Banff last week to discuss a range of public safety and justice issues, including several of interest to NWT residents.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 15, 2014) – Minister Responsible for Women Bob McLeod offered his congratulations to Malala Yousafzi on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize along with Kailash Satyarthi, Indian children’s rights advocate.

“Malala Yousafzi went against the accepted beliefs of some people in her society that says girls are of lesser value,” said Premier McLeod. “In doing so she became a target for life-threatening violence.”

YELLOWKNIFE (October 14, 2014) – The Mackenzie Valley Fiberoptic Link (MVFL) took another positive step today with the announcement by Finance Minister J. Michael Miltenberger that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the K’ahsho Got’ine District have signed an agreement to allow for the construction and operation of the project.