Mr. Speaker, the resource sector is the single largest contributor to the NWT economy. Mining has created more than 28,000 jobs and produced $46 billion in minerals since the early 1930s. Those numbers help to tell the story of our success in this industry, which has provided residents and businesses across the territory with opportunities.

 To ensure our residents and communities receive long-term benefits from responsible mineral exploration and development, the NWT Mineral Development Strategy and Implementation Plan were developed. Of the 28 recommendations in the Plan, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is the lead on 12. Today, I would like to update Members on the progress we are making on a few of these initiatives.

 One of these initiatives is the Mining Incentive Program, launched last June. The program was oversubscribed by almost 200 percent in its inaugural year, with seven exploration companies and two prospectors receiving funding. We hope to continue this successful program for 2015.

 We also recently announced the establishment of a Mining Industry Advisory Board. Once established, this Board will provide technical advice to government and ensure mining regulations are in place to foster economic growth while maintaining high regulatory, environmental and social standards.

This Board will consist of between five and seven volunteers with a wide range of technical knowledge and sustainable development expertise. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment will recommend names of possible board members after consultation with the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines to reflect the best cross section of mining expertise as possible.

To promote the Northwest Territories as an attractive place to invest in mineral development we have a marketing and investment campaign underway with the theme of “Unlocking our Potential”. In addition to advertisements, this campaign will build on our presence at the events and tradeshows we participate in. At the Mineral Exploration Roundup in Vancouver in January, we had a tradeshow booth that showcased the Northwest Territories and its tremendous potential to the prospectors, geoscientists, and investors in attendance. I look forward to providing you with an update on this campaign at a later date.

Good geoscience information is critical to the long-term development of the NWT mining sector. To ensure government and industry have the information they need, we are working to position the Northwest Territories Geoscience Office as the principal source of public geoscience knowledge, another recommendation in the Implementation Plan. A study of the glacial history and permafrost conditions of the central Slave Geological Province will provide insight to guide our efforts to stimulate the next round of diamond and metals exploration in the Slave Province. This is thanks, in part, to an increase in geoscience research funding from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

We also have plans to build a Geological Materials Storage Facility in Yellowknife that will house the territory’s substantial geological collections. Exploration companies and prospectors can re-use the existing drill core, which, for some companies, has resulted in millions of dollars of exploration savings.

Mr. Speaker, the Mineral Development Strategy and Implementation Plan give this government an important tool for supporting this sector and will continue to be evaluated and updated as we move forward to ensure that actions remain relevant and effective.

This Assembly has a vision of a strong, sustainable and prosperous North, Mr. Speaker. For more than 80 years, the mining industry has been a pillar of the Northwest Territories’ economy. The Mineral Development Strategy and Implementation Plan will help us to ensure the mining industry continues to be a key contributor to achieving our vision and the NWT’s economic growth.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.