Thank you for the invitation to join you again and for this opportunity to say a few words. It is something I am always happy and honoured to do.
Greetings, also, on behalf of Premier Bob McLeod and my colleagues on the Executive Council.
I would be remiss if I did not begin by saying how heavily the GNWT relies on the input of organizations such as the Hay River Chamber of Commerce and the Territorial Farmers Association in its consideration and development of programs and initiatives that will be relevant to our territory and in particular to the business environment and the advancement of economic development in the Hay River area.
To that end, I would also like to acknowledge my colleagues in the 17th Assembly - Ms. Groenewegen, Mr. Nadli and Mr. Bouchard who work very hard to communicate and lobby your interests to the Government.
I can assure you that the interests of the Hay River area are very well represented and the feedback that we receive through them is both valued and heeded.
It’s been almost a year since our government formally took office with a commitment to doing business differently. From the beginning, we have readily acknowledged that we do not have the resources or expertise to do everything ourselves.
We recognize the importance and value of partnerships and good relationships. And have said many times in this first year that it is only by working together that we will be able to realize the full potential of our territory and the kind of future we envision for our people.
Later this afternoon, I will be meeting with Mayor Latour, Mayor Elect Cassidy and members of the Hay River Town Council. This morning, prior to the opening of the Egg Grading facility I had a chance to sit down with Chief Fabien.
As your Territorial Government, we have made it a priority to invest in - and strengthen - the relationships that we need to find common ground and to maintain the ongoing dialogue and partnerships that will allow us to move our Territory forward.
I believe we are on the right track and I think the results and benefits of the approach that we have incorporated is already being evidenced right here in Hay River.
This morning we officially opened the doors to an infrastructure investment in Hay River that will realize as many as 20 new jobs and launch what stands to be a 7 million dollar industry in our Territory’s agricultural sector.
I’m looking forward to similar celebrations in the future.
Our efforts to support and attract more industry investment to the Hay River area continue. I know Jane and Robert have also been working hard to promote and present the Hay River region as an economically-viable location to establish new businesses and operations.
The proposed construction of Avalon’s hydromet processing plant at Pine Point is a good example of a realistic do-able project that we want to see happen – so is Mr. Brad Mape’s proposal to establish the Aurora’s wood pellet mill in Enterprise.
Later this afternoon, I’m looking forward to visiting Two-seasons Adventures and to hearing, in more detail, about their plans to expand and diversify operations to become an Adventure Centre. The GNWT, through the Department of ITI, is helping them do this in part under our Tourism Product Diversification and Marketing program.
Bucket List Tours received similar support last year and this summer, I understand Tracy was able to offer the first of her new bus tours into the South Slave and Deh Cho regions.
In general, I can tell you that our investments in tourism and tourism infrastructure have netted a discernable return in visitors to the parks and campgrounds here in Hay River and, in fact, across the NWT.
I note that Mayor Latour and your past council have been involved in discussions regarding the eventual transfer of jobs relating to Devolution. I agree with Ken’s assessment that the town of Hay River is well positioned to receive some of these jobs. In addition, we as a Government have made the commitment to de-centralize some of our own positions to further increase employment opportunities in our towns and communities where they are needed the most.
Earlier this year, we broadened the mandate of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Office here in Hay River to allow the GNWT to contribute staff and resources to other areas of resource development opportunity and potential in the NWT.
And, of course, we will always be reliant on a healthy and responsive NWT business community and construction industry here in Hay River to ensure that we are supplied with the infrastructure, goods and services needed to effectively deliver our work here.
In addition to our own infrastructure programs, there are also significant business opportunities associated with our capital contributions to community governments under the New Deal and the Federal Gas Tax program.
Collectively, all of these opportunities represent new infrastructure for your town, business for local contractors, contracts for service suppliers and jobs for Hay River residents. Each job adds to the economy and every dollar we keep in Hay River goes farther to keeping the economy in this region alive and growing.
The Government of the Northwest Territories has a strong track record of support and investment when it comes to developing and advancing the economic conditions and the investment climate that will help us realize our vision of an environmentally sustainable and prosperous NWT.
But creating this future is not a project we can complete alone. We will need the participation and cooperation of business organizations like this Chamber and other representative organizations in the North.
In the next year, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment will be advancing two new and separate strategies to build on our success - and to further address our priority to strengthen and diversify the economy.
The first is an Economic Opportunities Strategy. The second is a Mineral Development Strategy. Both will need your input and I would like to conclude my remarks today by discussing these briefly.
The Legislative Assembly’s vision for a sustainable economic development strategy is one that will allow us to keep pace with the incredible growth potential that our territory has, to ensure we are positioned to guide and manage this investment and growth, and use it to build capacity and self-sufficiency in our communities and our people.
This strategy will be an investment in our economy as much as it is an investment in diversification. Yes, we have a wealth of resource potential, but we also need to expand our tourism sector, explore additional opportunities for small businesses and consider how activities such as farming, egg marketing and harvesting can contribute to our economy.
Care will be taken to ensure the strategy is responsive to changing economic circumstances in our Territory, creating an increased awareness of business opportunities in all regions of the NWT, and recognizing the need to maintain sustainable development best practices.
It will also take into account that some communities in the NWT live and prefer a traditional lifestyle. For these communities, the focus of the strategy will be on self-sufficiency, such as finding ways to reduce imports – mainly fuel, increase local food production and maintain and improve local housing and other community services.
That said, we also recognize that while we have a wealth of resources, our economy is often dependent on market forces beyond our control and vulnerable to boom and bust cycles.
For the past decade and a half, our Territory’s economy has been largely driven by mineral exploration and development. It has presented us with unprecedented opportunities for investment, employment and business development. Our mining sector employs hundreds of NWT residents and results in more than half a billion dollars in annual purchases from NWT businesses.
So far, our approach has been to maximize the benefits of resource development by building business capacity in our communities, corporations and businesses, and investing in the education and skill development of our youth who will eventually empower and guide its growth. We have had success in these areas, but we need a long-term plan.
The proposed mineral development strategy that we will prepare will guide decision-making for mineral development into the future. It will support our efforts to expand the nature and scope of our resource development and provide a framework to ensure our mineral resources continue to be developed in a way that benefits NWT residents, ensures development is sustainable, and upholds our commitment to protect the environment.
A long term plan for mineral development will demonstrate certainty and stability during this time of devolution negotiations and transition and serve to increase industry confidence and exploration expenditures in our region. It will complement our work on a comprehensive Economic Opportunities Strategy.
In the spirit of collaboration that our Government has so strongly endorsed, both of these strategies will be developed in close partnerships with our Territory's leaders, stakeholder groups and organizations to ensure that they are balanced and responsive to the needs of the people we serve.
Our extensive engagement process will further ensure that all voices are heard and that these strategies can work as a guide for all regions in our territory.
I began my comments this afternoon by expressing my appreciation for the insight and guidance that is so readily available to us here in the South Slave, due in large part, to the support and healthy working relationship we have with many of you here today.
As we move forward, I hope that you will consider being a part of the process that will bring these two new strategies to fruition.
To build a strong Territory, we need a strong economy. To build a strong economy, we need the help of a strong, vibrant and engaged business community. A business community like that represented by both the Territorial Farmers Association and the Hay River Chamber of Commerce.
Thank you.