(February 25, 2013) - Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I'll try to keep my remarks brief. After all, it's said that most speakers need no introduction. What they need is a conclusion. This event is always one of my favourites and I’m happy to see everyone is enjoying the spirit of entrepreneurism to the fullest here this evening!

Special thanks to Janet Marie Fizer for the invitation to join you and for the opportunity to say a few words this evening. As Chamber president, you have been a strong supporter of small business and under your leadership this Chamber has been a strong advocate for local businesses.

I would also like to acknowledge my colleagues Mrs. Jane Groenewegen and Mr. Robert Bouchard. It has been an exciting few weeks at the Legislative Assembly and you can rest assured both of them are working hard for you here at home.

I had the pleasure of attending the Up Here Business Frozen Globe Awards last night and want to congratulate Spencer King of Kingland Ford for his nomination for the NWT Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The heart of entrepreneurship beats strongly in Hay River and your community roster is full of business stars:  

• Brad Mapes, and his dedication to opening a wood pellet plant, to reduce fuel costs and create jobs in the community
• Wally Schumann and Poison Graphics – your dedication to customer service has seen your business grow tenfold in the past decade.
• Jackie Milne, president of the Territorial Farmer’s Association, who has long been an advocate for farming and agricultural initiatives in the North.
• The Wallington family, leaders in moving the production of eggs forward in the NWT. It is such a pleasure for me to go to the local grocery store and see your Polar Eggs on the shelves.
• Jack and Mike Rowe, with Rowe’s construction, who for over 30 years has provided contracting services throughout the NWT with a workforce almost entirely northern.
• Joe McBryan, who has not only dedicated his career to transporting cargo and passengers safely to their destinations in communities across the NWT, but has also raised the profile of our territory through his show, “Ice Pilots”.
• And Kathy McBryan and Fraser Pike, Hay River’s newest adventure travel experts with their company 2 Seasons Adventures. Your hospitality will truly make travellers’ experiences to the NWT unforgettable.

These are only a few examples – there are many others and we could spend the entire evening showcasing the success of the Hay River business community.

I have enormous respect for what you do by creating jobs, taking risks, and investing in your community.

There are always risks in business, but we need entrepreneurs like you who dream big, seize the opportunities and tackle the challenges. Congratulations and thank you to all the Hay River business owners.

There are great things in store for Hay River that will translate into great news for business owners and for the Hay River economy. I was pleased to present at the Avalon public hearing this week and speak about the GNWT’s support for the project. As my colleague Robert Bouchard has also mentioned, the Thor Lake project and associated processing facility could create many jobs and business and training opportunities in Hay River.

The boom the Sahtu is experiencing will also see benefits spill over to Hay River, as the hub of the Northwest Territories.

And in the near future, the GNWT Business Incentive Policy Monitoring Office – or “BIP Office” as we all know it – will be moved from Yellowknife to Hay River, which will create more jobs for the town’s residents.

We all know there is great potential for business in Hay River. The Government of the Northwest Territories is relying on the Chamber for guidance and advice and we recognize the Chamber’s strong and healthy working relationship with the Northwest Territories’ business community.

As we continue to move forward, we will continue to seek your insight and guidance in developing programs and services to advance economic development in the community.

But for now, tonight we celebrate your success, your business innovation, and your community. 

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening.