YELLOWKNIFE (May 30, 2013) – The NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy (EOS) Advisory Panel has completed and delivered its What We Heard Report to the project’s Governance Committee.

As part of the process to develop the Strategy, the panel was tasked with engaging NWT residents and economic stakeholders in a series of discussions to identify regional economic opportunities and challenges.

Chair of the Advisory Panel Joe Handley says engagement was strong, “people recognized that this is more than an exercise in increasing the GDP of the NWT,” Handley said. “It is an exercise in increasing the wellbeing of NWT residents and their communities. ‘Do something now’ was a common message in many of the sessions.”

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay says the Advisory Panel’s report highlights the diversity that exists outside of the NWT’s rich resource sector. “We cannot build a steady and sustainable economy for our territory on resource development alone,” he noted. “Especially in our communities, economic health hinges on sectors such as tourism, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and the traditional economies.”

In addition to documenting what they heard, the Advisory Panel’s report includes observations and recommendations to guide the drafting of a final strategy.

Work to develop the final strategy is already underway, guided by a Governance Committee that includes the NWT Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Aboriginal Business Association, the NWT Association of Communities, Canada’s Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI).

“The strategy that we are developing is one of pan-territorial impacts and importance – and not one that can be completed in isolation,” says EOS Governance Committee Chair Peter Vician.  “Thanks to the work of the Advisory Panel, the partnered approach that we are taking has now been extended to our territory's many leaders, stakeholders, and organizations and residents.” Vician says the EOS Governance Committee recognizes that any strategy development for the NWT will need to be responsive to changing circumstances in the North and address – in some way – business opportunities in all regions of the NWT.

The final report is expected to be presented to the Legislative Assembly in October.

For more information:

Drew Williams
Manager, Communications and Engagement
NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy
tel: (867) 873-7272
cel: (867) 445-3739
drew_williams@gov.nt.ca