Delivered on November 23, 2016

Thank you for meeting with the Government of the Northwest Territories this afternoon.

We are in Ottawa this week to speak with the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Standing Committees about some of the challenges and opportunities facing the people of the Northwest Territories today.

Before we get to that presentation, I would like to take a few minutes to talk a little bit about our territory.

Delivered on November 22, 2016

Good morning, my name is Wally Schumann and I am the Minister of Transportation, Public Works and Services, and Industry Tourism and Investment for the Government of the Northwest Territories.

It is an honour to serve in this role recognizing the significant part that infrastructure plays in the success of our residents, our communities, our businesses, and the future prosperity of the Northwest Territories.

Delivered on November 22, 2016

Thank you for meeting with the Government of the Northwest Territories this afternoon.

We are in Ottawa this week to speak with the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Standing Committees about some of the most significant challenges facing the people of the Northwest Territories today.

Before we get to that presentation, I would like to take a few minutes to talk a little bit about our territory.

Community sustainability is a huge challenge for the people of the Northwest Territories.

Delivered on November 21, 2016

Thank Premier McLeod for the introduction. And thank you Committee members for the opportunity to meet with you today.

Madam Chair, the North’s unique ecosystem is critical to the health of the planet. The decisions we make about protecting biodiversity and ecological integrity serve not only the interests of NWT residents and other Canadians, but people around the globe.

Delivered on November 21, 2016

Thank you for meeting with us this evening.

Before Minister McLeod gets into his presentation, I wanted to take a few minutes to introduce you to the Northwest Territories and some of the challenges we face.

The Northwest Territories has just over 44,000 residents living in 33 communities.

Its communities are spread out from the southern border with the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta to Banks Island in the Arctic Ocean.

Yellowknife, le 10 novembre 2016 — Le ministre de l’Industrie, du Tourisme et de l’Investissement, Wally Schumann, a fait la déclaration suivante aujourd’hui :

« Le gouvernement des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (GTNO) a mis fin à ses ententes de surveillance, de certification et de licence de marques avec Deepak International Ltd (DIL). DIL n’est désormais plus un fabricant de diamants approuvé des Territoires du Nord-Ouest et n’est donc plus autorisé à utiliser la marque de commerce déposée Ours polaire^MD ni d’autres marques de commerce du GTNO.

Mr. Speaker, openness and transparency are fundamental principles of democracy that contribute to government accountability.

These principles underpin our debates and discussions here in this House, where government plans, policies and budgets are presented for examination and approval by the public’s elected representatives. Every day during Session, Members ask Ministers to explain government proposals, decisions and actions in a public forum open to anybody who wants to attend or watch our proceedings on television.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to provide an overview of the Department of Transportation’s efforts to capture economic opportunities at the Yellowknife Airport.

The Department is taking steps to make the Yellowknife Airport financially self-sufficient. By running the Airport more like a business, we will be able to make capital improvements, create jobs, and explore opportunities to drive economic growth across the territory.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to take steps to close the skills gap using the Skills 4 Success Strategic Framework. I am pleased to advise Members that later today I will be tabling the Skills 4 Success 4-Year Action Plan 2016-2020, which outlines what we will do to improve employment success for the people of the Northwest Territories. This is an important milestone in meeting our mandate commitment.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to strengthen culture and heritage in the NWT by working with stakeholders to update the 2010 NWT Aboriginal Languages Plan: A Shared Responsibility.