Northwest Territories News

YELLOWKNIFE (November 14, 2014) – Trout Lake residents and visitors now have access to a wider variety of travel and shipping options with the opening of the community’s new airport.

The original airport was constructed in 1987 and had a 2,632-foot runway. The new runway, stretching 3500 feet, will increase the capacity to handle a wider variety of aircraft, including larger airplanes and pressurized air services.

Trout Lake is serviced by a winter road, generally from mid-December to early April. For the rest of the year, residents, industry and tourists depend on aviation services for reliable, safe and secure travel and goods transportation. The new airport will also improve mobility, training, and employment opportunities.

This new airport will make Trout Lake and other remote and small communities in the area less isolated and better able to sustain themselves by reducing the cost of living and increasing connectivity. 

Quick Facts

• The governments of Canada and Northwest Territories provided a joint contribution of $9.3 million toward the eligible costs of this initiative through the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund.

Quotes

“The North is critical to Canada’s current and future prosperity and investing in modern, safe and efficient public infrastructure will help create a sustainable and vibrant Northern economy. We are pleased to work with our territorial partners to expand air services in the North, such as through the new Trout Lake Airport, to improve Northerners’ quality of life, enhance their access to goods and services, and stimulate investments and economic development in the region.”

The Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Infrastructure, Communities, and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

“Since 2006, our Government has been committed to supporting projects that play an important role in creating jobs and strengthening our economy. Our investment in this important project will help improve the region’s access to safe and efficient transportation options, and deliver on our commitment to building safer, healthier and stronger Northern communities.”

 The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council

 “This new airport makes the Dehcho region more accessible, encouraging sustainable development and economic growth. Our small community airports are a lifeline for everything from critical supplies to medevacs, and are especially important when there is no winter road access. Strategic investments in transportation infrastructure support our economy and improve GNWT services in communities.”

Tom Beaulieu
Minister of Transportation, GNWT

 “I wish to congratulate the residents and community of Trout Lake, who truly played a big role in building this new airport. They should be very proud.”

 Kevin Menicoche
Member of Legislative Assembly for Nahendeh

Associated Links

 Canada’s Economic Action Plan Gets Shovels in the Ground in the Northwest Territories: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/media/news-nouvelles/2009/20090910yellowknife-eng.html

 To learn more about the federal Provincial—Territorial Base Fund, visit:  http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/ptbase-finbasept-eng.html

For more information about the Northwest Territories Department of Transportation, visit: http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/home.aspx

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/plan-eng.html.

To learn more about the Government of Canada’s focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada’s Economic Action Plan at http://www.eap.gc.ca.

 Contacts

 Vincent Rabault
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838

Megan Holsapple
Communications
Department of Transportation
Government of the Northwest Territories
867-873-7712

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
media@infc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter at @INFC_eng

YELLOWKNIFE (November 14, 2014) – November 14th is World Diabetes Day (WDD) and Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy is urging Northwest Territories residents to choose a healthy lifestyle to help prevent diabetes and other chronic diseases.

“Diabetes is a major public health issue in both the Northwest Territories and Canada,” said Minister Abernethy. “The Government of the Northwest Territories is working towards creating a health care system that will support people in making healthy choices and ensure the best possible care for residents when they need it.”

On average, there are approximately 200 new diagnoses of diabetes among NWT residents aged one and older each year.

Obesity is a significant risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Between 2002/03 and 2008/09, the prevalence of diabetes in the Northwest Territories has increased steadily from 2.9% to 4.4%.

The Department of Health and Social Services is working towards helping residents maintain good health and preventing and detecting diabetes early with several initiatives.

Working in conjunction with the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Department recently developed and implemented NWT-specific clinical practice guidelines for screening and diagnosing Type 2 diabetes.  These guidelines will also help people to recognize their own personal responsibility for their health.

The Department has also developed a healthy eating questionnaire, a healthy eating booklet and a series of nutritional fact sheets, to help people make healthy food choices and reduce their risk of developing diabetes. Visit www.choosenwt.com for more information on the healthy eating booklet and questionnaire. Additional information on healthy eating and proper nutrition is available in our NWT Nutritional Fact Sheets.

The World Diabetes Day campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation and its member associations. This year’s WDD theme is Healthy Living and Diabetes.

Damien Healy
Manager Planning and Communications
Department of Health and Social Services
Tel: (867) 920-8927
Email: Damien_healy@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (November 13, 2014) – Northwest Territories businesses and entrepreneurs can use a new online database to obtain information on a variety of funding programs and services from the Government of the Northwest Territories and other governments and agencies. Increased awareness of available financial programs is expected to help NWT businesses to better access financial support.

“This new database is the first step of many the Government of the Northwest Territories will take this year to strengthen government programs and services for NWT businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay. “These are important programs that are helping to support our business community, and we are pleased to offer businesses and entrepreneurs a valuable tool to learn more about them.” 

The database, recommended in the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy, allows users to search funding options by agency or by sector. The InvestNWT.com website also links NWT businesses and potential investors with key economic information about the NWT, sector profiles and statistical data and analysis.

The ongoing implementation of the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy contributes to achieving the 17th Legislative Assembly’s priority of strengthening and diversifying the NWT’s economy.

Media inquiries:

Leslie Campbell
Senior Communications Officer
Industry, Tourism and Investment
Tel: (867) 920-3343
Email: leslie_campbell@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (November 10, 2014) – The Government of the Northwest Territories is enhancing its online services with new security features that protect NWT residents’ personal information while improving access to government services.

“The next time you renew your vehicle registration, book your driver exam, or print your driving record online, you’ll sign in more securely than ever before,” said Minister of Transportation Tom Beaulieu. “Over time, residents will be able to access more GNWT services online with the same user IDs. The new secure sign-in process will eventually be used for a wide variety of online services for residents, businesses and visitors.” 

The new secure GNWT logins are similar to those used by the Government of Canada. Residents who do not want to create new GNWT IDs and passwords can sign in securely with their banking credentials. Both provide access to all GNWT online services as they are developed.

Secure, confidential access to enhanced online services provides new choices for residents in all communities, expanding driver and motor-vehicle services to remote communities without local issuing offices. Government Services Officers in small communities have been trained to help elders and others use online driver and motor vehicle services. These services continue to be available in person at 15 issuing offices across the territory and by phone, fax or e-mail.

Providing residents with easy, secure and trusted sign-in systems is part of the GNWT’s Service Innovation Strategy to support the 17th Assembly’s goal of effective and efficient government by putting more services online.

Media inquiries:
Shaun Dean
Director, Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 669-2304
Email: shaun_dean@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (November 6, 2014) – Minister of Lands Robert C. McLeod announced today that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has approved Dominion Diamond Ekati Corporation’s surety bond as security for approximately $253 million under its Ekati water licence. The surety bond will account for all security currently required under the water licence.

“This action on the part of the Government of the Northwest Territories demonstrates our ability to make timely and sound decisions that support responsible, sustainable resource development in the NWT,” says Minister McLeod. “With our new devolution responsibilities, we are protecting the environment, prudently managing public funds and promoting economic opportunities in a way that balances NWT interests.” 

In reaching its decision, the GNWT’s Departments of Lands, Finance and Environment and Natural Resources completed a rigorous review of Dominion Diamond’s surety bond. The departments’ work confirms that the terms of the security bond are acceptable to the GNWT.

A surety bond is an acceptable form of security under the Waters Act, subject to the GNWT’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of the bond. It is intended to protect the health and safety of the public and the environment and is an important tool to address the potential for environmental damage.  The surety bond also allows Dominion Diamond to continue to invest and develop its project, bringing tangible economic benefits to the NWT economy.

Responsibility for the Waters Act and the NWT land and water management regime it is part of transferred to the GNWT with devolution. The GNWT is now responsible for addressing Dominion Diamond’s outstanding security requirements under their Type “A” Water License W2012L2- 0001 and determining the acceptable terms and conditions for the surety bond.

• Backgrounder – Surety Bonds

Media Inquiries
Shaun Dean
Director, Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-669-2304
Email: shaun_dean@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (November 6, 2014) – The Government of the Northwest Territories confirmed today that it is no longer in discussions with Yellowknife Education District #1 (YK1) and the Commission scolaire francophone (CSF) on a school swap.

“Whatever YK1 decides regarding the use of their schools will not have any impact on the appeal that the GNWT has decided to pursue respecting the court ordered expansion to Ecole Allain St. Cyr,” said Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty.

The opportunity to look for alternative arrangements to accommodate the court ordered expansion has come and gone and YK1 was advised of that in February 2014.

The GNWT is not asking YK1 to give up a school and it will be their decision alone on how to manage the schools they own.

Discussions about facility usage currently planned are entirely at the discretion of YK1 and are unrelated to the court ruling. Responsibility for any decisions taken respecting the use of its schools as a result of these discussions will rest solely with the board of trustees of YK1.

For more information please see the attached backgrounders:

• School Swap Update – Yellowknife (November 2014)
• School Swap Facts – Yellowknife (April 2014)
• School Exchange Backgrounder – Yellowknife and Hay River (March 2014)

Media inquiries:
Shaun Dean
Director, Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-669-2304
Email: shaun_dean@gov.nt.ca

Mr. Speaker, entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Northwest Territories are committed, passionate, and extremely hard working.

I would like to take the opportunity to recognize a particularly dedicated business owner, Mr. Francis Anderson.  Mr. Anderson has been the owner and operator of Saville Enterprises, a thriving hardware store in the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, since the age of 19.

Maintaining a business in one of the most northern communities in the Northwest Territories may have its challenges, and Mr. Anderson’s business is a great example of how they can be overcome. His work to provide the products, services and knowledge needed by his community is renowned. 

Mr. Anderson opened his business over 30 years ago, and his is a success story and part of the foundation of the made-in-the-NWT business community.

Business people like Mr. Anderson empower the entrepreneurial spirit of the Northwest Territories. Those who are starting in business or thinking of following the path to entrepreneurship will benefit from his leadership.

With the construction of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway, access to these communities will improve and opportunities to invest and grow our economy will be realized, particularly in our small business and tourism sectors.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as a result of devolution, much of the lands and waters of the Northwest Territories are now the responsibility of our government.  We had prepared for this eventually by getting our policy house in order through the development of the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy and its Action Plan.  We built these documents collaboratively with our partners, in particular the Aboriginal governments of the NWT. They represent a huge success, and they demonstrate how innovative we are here in the North.

I am very pleased to report another critically important success.

Our post-devolution responsibility for water, and our commitment made in the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy, was to negotiate Transboundary Water Management Agreements with our neighbouring jurisdictions in the Mackenzie River Basin.

As of yesterday, our negotiating team has reached a stable Intentions Document with Alberta.  This is following having reached agreement on an Intentions Document with British Columbia earlier this year, in June.  So, we have now accomplished a critical stage with the two key jurisdictions upstream of us.  These two agreements cover over 85% of the Mackenzie River Basin.  With these two agreements in place we can confidently say that we are protecting the vast majority of the Mackenzie River Basin, and, because the Mackenzie River Basin is about 20% of the land mass of Canada, these agreements are of also national and international significance. 

Both Intentions Documents meet the strategic outcomes for these agreements that were approved by Cabinet in 2012.

First and foremost, they are ecological agreements that protect the health of the aquatic ecosystem while allowing for development by both parties.  This has only been negotiated in one other place in the world, in Australia, and in the face of drought they were not able to maintain their commitments to the aquatic ecosystem.  Because we will absolutely fulfill our commitments, we will be the first jurisdiction in the world to demonstrate how to truly protect the health of the aquatic ecosystem while allowing for development.

Further, the Alberta and BC Intentions Documents also create an adaptive framework for cooperative management of transboundary waters, set out cooperative decision-making processes and create clear notification, consultation, and information-sharing requirements.  With these agreements in place, we will no longer find out about upstream developments and events in the newspaper. We are building a much closer, more productive working relationship with our Mackenzie River Basin neighbours.

Throughout the negotiating process, the opinions and values of Aboriginal governments and other stakeholders were critical. Environment and Natural Resources has engaged deeply with Aboriginal governments over the last seven years as we worked together in meetings and regional workshops throughout the NWT to develop the NWT Water Strategy, and we worked even more closely over the last three years as negotiations proceeded.

We continued to engage repeatedly with Aboriginal governments, updating and briefing them, and then revising our positions to take into account their views.  The NWT Water Strategy Aboriginal Steering Committee was also updated regularly on the progress of the negotiations.  Just last month, on October 6 and 7, we brought all Aboriginal groups to Yellowknife to consult on the NWT-BC Intentions Document, and we received strong support that we will continue to build upon as we work with Aboriginal governments in implementing the agreements.  Following that meeting, we met with regulatory boards and NGOs from both within and outside of the NWT.

Traditional and local knowledge workshops and community-based monitoring have added valuable information to the engagement and consultation process.  People in the NWT are experts on the place where they live and work and we have and will continue to ensure they have a voice and opportunity to speak during this process.

We have discussed different elements of the Intentions Documents with governance and ecosystem science experts from across Canada.  They have all expressed strong support for what we have accomplished.

Aboriginal consultation and public engagement regarding the BC and Alberta agreements are coming to an end.  A Highlights document that includes the comments and concerns we heard during consultation meetings and responses to those concerns is currently being distributed to Aboriginal groups.  A FAQ document has been published recently to provide residents of the NWT with additional information to better understand concepts included in the Intentions Document.

We will continue to pursue Transboundary Water Management Agreements with Saskatchewan and the Yukon and are also planning on beginning the discussion with Nunavut.

Both Alberta and British Columbia are committed to signing these agreements in February after they have completed their consultations.  This will be a highly anticipated celebration, one we hope to host here in Yellowknife.

I want to recognize our small but very powerful and effective water team that got us these agreements, one of the best water teams in the country.  They drove the process and showed the other jurisdictions just how things are done here in the North.

Mr. Speaker, we are on the verge of taking a major step towards achieving the vision we developed for the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy: to develop transboundary water agreements that ensure the waters of the NWT will remain clean productive and abundant for all time.  We did this by working together.  I am proud of the work we have done and I believe that this work will be a legacy for future generations.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as part of devolution, the Government of the Northwest Territories took over responsibility for the management of environmental liabilities and securities for resource development projects in our territory.

The regulatory system in the Northwest Territories provides for environmental protection, including terms and conditions within various authorizations. Security provides additional protection to ensure that there are funds to address environmental liabilities if proponents fail to take remedial action.

Several departments are responsible for managing financial securities under individual licences, leases and permits. Our government recognizes that these responsibilities must be closely coordinated and effectively managed on a whole-of-project and territory-wide basis in order to have a full picture to reduce financial risk to the GNWT and to protect our land for generations to come.

On September 12, 2014, I announced the establishment of a dedicated division in the Department of Lands to oversee the management of financial securities. The Liabilities and Financial Assurances Division will provide for strong and effective collaboration between departments with legislated responsibilities for security deposits, as well as central agencies such as the Departments of Finance and Justice. This Division will also lead and coordinate short and longer-term policy development concerning the government’s management of securities.

Mr. Speaker, the establishment of this new Division is well underway and it has already taken steps towards providing support to other departments managing environmental liabilities and financial securities.

Our government has reviewed the Fall 2012 Report of the Commissioner on Sustainable Development and the Environment, which considered the federal government’s management of securities that were transferred to us under devolution.  The audit provided practical recommendations on improving governance, risk management approaches and controls. The Report provides a useful starting point where we can learn from federal experience and build approaches to improve securities management and protect the GNWT from financial risks.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Lands has already initiated the development of a securities information management system for the GNWT. This system will address the handling and processing of securities, and support departments’ analysis of ongoing reviews of financial security. This analysis is necessary for evidence-based policy development and securities interventions which will balance the needs of government, taxpayers and proponents.

In the interim, the Department is leading and coordinating the establishment of a cross-departmental interim protocol for security management addressing the operational handling requirements for securities.

Mr. Speaker, it is essential that our government also have the right tools to support informed decision-making. To this end, the Division has started the necessary baseline policy reviews to inform both short and long-term policy development.

Although individual GNWT departments continue to develop interventions and review proposals with significant reclamation obligations, the Department of Lands is taking on the additional responsibility related to security management and assessment for individual projects. By doing so, Mr. Speaker, it is gaining valuable insight that will lead to an informed policy baseline that considers both operational realities and the needs of our government.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, we are developing important partnerships with our industry, academic and public sector counterparts, including resource management boards. These partnerships will also help support a broad-based and informed policy basis for our government moving forward.

We also need to make sure our investment climate is attractive, while our environment is protected. The GNWT has noted industry’s concerns about the risk of double bonding if there are potentially overlapping securities requirements. Our new Division will help ensure we can address this concern, while managing any potential environmental liabilities and, at the same time, encourage sustainable land use to ensure strong economic development in our territory.

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to protecting the land and environment of the Northwest Territories while supporting responsible, sustainable development consistent with our Land Use and Sustainability Framework. Consistently assessing appropriate securities for developments is one of the ways we will do that. The creation of the Liabilities and Financial Assurances Division will support us in this goal and ensure that potential environmental liabilities can be remediated so the northern environment is protected.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, over the last few days the future of energy and the approach of the Government of the Northwest Territories to energy in the Northwest Territories has been explored, deliberated and discussed at length.

The 2014 Northwest Territories Energy Charrette has generated a great deal of interest throughout our territory and beyond. Over 120 people participated in the entire Charrette and there were many more who attended the public discussion held on Monday, November 3rd.

We had representatives from communities and Aboriginal governments from every region of the territory and attracted experts in the field of renewable and sustainable energy from across Canada, and even as far away as Germany.

The focus of discussions was on what we can do today to address the high energy costs that contribute to our cost of living and the approach we need to take to ensure we have sustainable energy systems in the long term.  

I would like to emphasize that there was a strong project focus to these discussions. This is why the Government of the Northwest Territories invited Mr. Axel Lambion from Germany, whose company specializes in biomass energy systems. Lambion Energy Solutions has been operating for 100 years and has developed over 3,000 projects across the world. Other participants, such as Marlo Raynolds from BluEarth Energy and Anouk Kendall from Decentralized Energy Canada provided their perspectives and experience with regard to renewable energy projects on the ground today.  These include projects that could be built in the short term, including solar, biomass and combined heat and power systems.

I would like to thank all Members of the Legislative Assembly who participated in these discussions. I would also like to acknowledge Minister Miltenberger for his efforts to ensure this Charrette was a success and his commitment to change our approach to energy in the short term to ensure communities have access to affordable and sustainable energy systems in the long term.

Mr. Speaker, there will be outcomes from the 2014 Energy Charrette. A report on the Charrette discussions will be released within a month. The government will circulate the report widely and ask for additional input and include residents who expressed an interest but were unable to attend the Charrette.

The Government will then look at developing a response to the Charrette Report that could include changes to the current Energy Plan early next year. We would like to work with all Members of the Legislative Assembly on this initiative and will be following up through the Standing Committee process to further engage Members in the discussion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this Government is committed to improving the health and social services system in the Northwest Territories. Over the last year, I have travelled to every region of the NWT to consult with residents, communities, Aboriginal governments, and staff in the regional Authorities. Everywhere I go, I have heard from people that they don’t care about bureaucratic boundaries and regional silos. They just want the best possible care for themselves and their loved ones.  They want to be sure that we can afford to provide excellent care into the future.

Based on what we’ve heard from the people, and guided by experts in our system and the valuable insights of my colleagues in this House, the Department of Health and Social Services and the eight Health and Social Services Authorities have developed a proposed model for an integrated health and social services system. I have kept Members of the Standing Committee on Social Programs informed as the proposal has evolved and have received positive feedback and support from Committee for this approach. We have also partnered on the development of a system-wide strategic plan that will help us to achieve our vision of Best Health, Best Care, for a Better Future. 

Mr. Speaker, the proposed model addresses a major gap that exists in our system today. Right now communities and regions do not have a voice at the territorial level, and we want to change that.  Our proposal is to move to one territorial Health and Social Services Authority with one territorial board of management. But regional advisory wellness councils will continue to provide advice on local and regional program delivery.  By having the Chairs of the Regional Wellness Councils sit as members of the NWT Health and Social Services Leadership Council, we will ensure that community concerns and knowledge are brought forward and that every region of the NWT gains a voice in the design and delivery of territorial programs and services.

There is widespread concern about the health of NWT residents, and particular concern about addictions, early childhood development, and chronic diseases such as diabetes.  We need to remove barriers for our system to work better and meet the needs of our residents.  We have heard repeatedly that the key to success for our proposal is to ensure a meaningful role for communities and regions, and to balance regional priorities with the need for clinical standards and improved access to service.

The proposed new system structure, vision, mission, and goals were made available for public feedback in August of this year.  The amount of interest from NWT residents was so strong that we extended the deadline for responses to October 31, to ensure that we heard from as many people as possible.  During that time, 360 online surveys were completed and we heard from many residents during public discussions. The public feedback indicates overwhelming support for the proposed model and strategic plan.  We have more work to do, but we have heard that we are on the right track.

Work is under way to move this initiative forward.  I plan to introduce amendments to the Hospital Insurance and Health and Social Services Administration Act in the Winter Session.  Based on the results of our consultation, the Department will lead the development of the organizational design for the integrated system, with a goal of implementation in early 2016.

Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time the Government of the Northwest Territories has tried to advance structural improvements to the system – but it is the first time that the proposal is being met with a generally positive response.  That speaks to the different approach we have taken this time around.

From the beginning, I have insisted that our focus be on improving patient care and service to clients. In every region and community that I have visited, I’ve heard personal stories of frustration from people who have encountered barriers in our system. We can, and we must, do better.

We have also engaged Aboriginal governments and community leadership in a dialogue, rather than presenting a final model from the outset.  We are committed to working in a government-to-government partnership with Aboriginal governments in the spirit of respect, recognition and responsibility, and we value their input into this process and their support for the changes we are proposing.

Finally, I have said from the beginning – and I reiterate today – that we are not talking about centralization.  We do not propose to eliminate any positions, and we do not intend to move positions out of regions or communities.  We have great people working throughout our system, and we need to keep them where they can make the biggest difference for our residents – on the frontlines in our communities.

There is no reason that senior staff need to be in one location.  This new structure will create exciting opportunities for the talented people within our system to assume leadership roles, working in virtual teams across the territory.

Mr. Speaker, I am really excited about the potential to transform the system.  There are so many benefits we can realize from moving towards operating as one system.  We can ensure consistent standards of service for all of our residents.  We can deploy resources both financial and professional – more easily to areas of greatest need.  We can move patients and clients seamlessly through the system without delays or duplication.  We can ensure that resources are used to optimum advantage, by eliminating duplication and overlap.  I am grateful for the ongoing support from Regular Members for this initiative.

This is an exciting and challenging time for the NWT health and social services system, and we are rising to that challenge. Working in partnership, we will provide the highest quality of care and services, we will encourage our people to make healthy choices to keep individuals, families and communities healthy and strong, and we will achieve our vision of “Best Health, Best Care, for a Better Future”.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to share the Northwest Territories three year baseline results of the Early Development Instrument referred to as the EDI results.  The EDI is a population-level tool that measures children’s ability to meet age appropriate developmental expectations at school entry.

The EDI measures five  areas of a child’s development, including their  physical health and well-being, their language and cognitive development, their communication skills and general knowledge, their social competence and the child’s emotional maturity.

Mr. Speaker, the EDI focuses on the outcomes for 5- year old kindergarten children that, in the long term, affect their lifelong learning, health and overall well-being. It lets us measure whether children are coming to school rested, fed and ready to learn. It tells us if they are able to follow directions, to get along with classmates and to tell a story about their day.   

The EDI results are telling us that 38% of all 5-year old children in the NWT are vulnerable in at least one area of their development as compared to 25% in the rest of Canada.  In small communities, as many as 50% of all 5-year olds are vulnerable in one area of their development.

We should be concerned about these statistics, Mr. Speaker, because long-term studies have shown that children who are vulnerable in only one area are more likely to struggle in later grades.

These same studies show that when kindergarten children are vulnerable in two or more areas of their development, their chances of struggling in school increase even more.

Mr. Speaker, right now 23% of all 5-year old children in the NWT are vulnerable in at least two areas of their development as compared to 12% in the rest of Canada.  When we look at small communities separately, 37% of children are vulnerable in two areas of their development.

Over the past three years the EDI has shown that 8% of all 5- year old NWT children are challenged in three or more areas of their development. Unaddressed that could mean lifelong learning challenges for these children. So with all the other EDI stats, this is even worse in small communities, where 16% of all 5-year olds have been identified as having multiple challenges.

Mr. Speaker, this data demands that we act now.  GNWT departments have started with the Right from the Start: Early Childhood Development Framework and Action Plan, but it cannot end there if we are to significantly impact the lives and futures of children in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, we should not tolerate the status quo in terms of child development and to change the status quo means changing the way we do business. It means trying new things. In some cases, it means shaking up our current system. It means working together, all of us, rather than working separately.

Mr. Speaker, I truly believe that with the combined efforts of all Members of this Assembly we can collectively make a positive difference in the lives of our families, our children and the people we serve.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling information that provides a summary of housing results from the 2014 NWT Community Survey.

The NWT Community Survey is a household survey conducted by the NWT Bureau of Statistics every five years. While there is a variety of important information from the survey, most important to the NWT Housing Corporation is the measure of core housing need.

Core housing need tells us how many NWT households are having housing problems like affordability, overcrowding, or poor housing quality and not enough income to address these issues.

Mr. Speaker results from the 2014 NWT Community Survey indicate that while overall core housing need has remained relatively stable compared to 2009, there has been considerable progress in improving housing conditions in smaller NWT communities. Core housing need has dropped by 24% in our non-market communities between 2009 and 2014, with 20 out of the 28 communities having improved housing conditions.

The NWT Housing Corporation has invested considerable resources over the past several years to improve the quality of their assets and to support homeowners in making the necessary repairs to their homes. The value of these investments is reflected in these results.

However, Mr. Speaker, while these results show progress in our non-market communities, the core housing need in most smaller NWT communities continues to be higher than in larger communities.

The majority of this core need is for homeowners and the NWT Housing Corporation will continue to work with these residents in partnership as they complete the required repairs for their houses.

Among the market communities, the core housing need improved slightly in most communities. The exception is Yellowknife where core housing need increased from 9.1% to 17.8% of households between 2009 and 2014. The majority of the core housing need in Yellowknife is for residents in private market rentals that are experiencing affordability problems.

Mr. Speaker, the housing results from the 2014 NWT Community Survey indicate that progress is being made but there is more work to be done. The 17th Legislative Assembly made addressing housing need a priority. The NWT Housing Corporation will be examining the housing results from this survey in detail and the strategic priorities outlined in its strategic plan to determine potential actions to continue addressing the identified trends.

Mr. Speaker, I would again like to thank Members for their advice and support as the NWT Housing Corporation has introduced considerable changes over the past few years and I look forward to continuing to work with them as we work towards the goal of all NWT residents having access to affordable, adequate and suitable housing.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, NWT businesses keep our economy strong, employ local residents and supply us with goods and services. Several NWT businesses have been recognized for their success lately and I would like to take this time to highlight some of them.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment partnered with the Inuvik Chamber of Commerce to host the Small Business Awards last month. I would like to congratulate Beaufort Beauty, Inukshuk Catering, and the owners of Alestine’s and Cloud 9 restaurants, who all received awards.  These businesses continue to provide excellent products and services to their community.

The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce recently hosted its Business Awards Gala and recognized ten local businesses. Congratulations to Just Fitness, KBL Environmental Ltd., Corother’s Home Hardware, Denendeh Investments, the Edge YK, Gaia Integrative Clinic, Williams Engineering, SSI Micro, Hovat Construction, and Erasmus Apparel for their well-deserved wins.

The Business Development and Investment Corporation held an awards ceremony, on October 27.  I was very pleased to be joined by Premier Bob McLeod at the awards ceremony to present petroleum retailer DL Services of Inuvik with the Outstanding Business Performance Award for 2013 and Deh Cho Suites in Fort Simpson the Outstanding Business Performance Award for 2014. 

We are fortunate to have many more businesses and individuals in the North that demonstrate true entrepreneurial spirit.

One entrepreneur I would like to acknowledge is Mr. Eddy Paul, CEO of NEXTreme Incorporated. Mr. Paul just received the Advanced Technology Award from the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia.  Mr. Paul, whose business is located in the thriving industrial community of Kam Lake, is making significant efforts to promote and advance steel manufacturing technology in the NWT, and we are very proud of his accomplishments in this industry. In fact, NEXTreme Steel Specialists was just added to the listing of Approved Northern Manufactured Products for steel plate girder bridges and bridge and span components.

A local tour company, Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures, also received recognition from the popular travel website Trip Advisor. After consistently receiving positive traveller reviews, the company was awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence.

Mr. Speaker, leading-edge corporations based in this territory are negotiating multi-million dollar contracts with governments and resource developers.  Local entrepreneurs are providing products and services for their communities, and Northern and Aboriginal-owned and operated businesses are dramatically changing the economic landscape of the NWT.

Through the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy and Implementation Plan we aim to create the conditions and competitive business environment in which we can advance and grow businesses and economic opportunities across our territory.  We will continue to work with local businesses and entrepreneurs to strengthen and diversify our economy, a priority of this government.

Mr. Speaker, today in the Northwest Territories, many entrepreneurs are thriving. They are bright, energetic and vibrant, and are willing to take risks, innovate, and work hard.  They are a critical part of our territory’s successful economy, and I extend my thanks and congratulations to them today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

INUVIK (November 5, 2014) - The second construction season of the Inuvik-to-Tuktoyaktuk Highway is now underway. By the end of this winter, significant progress is expected on approximately 95 km of the highly anticipated 137-km all-season highway between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. Up to 600 people will be employed over the winter construction season with 70 per cent of workers expected to be northern residents.

This project is generating numerous socio-economic opportunities for the region. The new highway is the most northern section of the envisioned Mackenzie Valley Highway, which will connect Canada’s road network from coast to coast to coast. It will decrease the cost of living in Tuktoyaktuk by enabling goods to be shipped by road year-round, increase opportunities for business development, reduce the cost of job-creating onshore oil and gas exploration, and strengthen Canada’s sovereignty in the North.

This season will build on significant progress made during the past construction season. Last year, crews began construction on 120 km of new road bed at the north and south ends, moving over one million cubic metres of granular material. 

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada is contributing up to $200 million towards this project.
• The Government of the Northwest Territories is contributing $99 million towards this $299-million project.
• 338 workers were employed during the first season, and 78 per cent of them were local or northern residents (not including subcontractors).

Quotes

“Entering into its second construction season, the new all-season highway continues to create jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity in the North. Our Government is proud to invest in infrastructure projects that will have a direct impact on the regional economy here in the Northwest Territories and across Canada.”

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of the Environment,
Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency,
Minister for the Arctic Council and Member of Parliament for Nunavut

“The Inuvik-to-Tuktoyaktuk Highway is a key part of northern plans for long-term economic development. It benefits all northerners by connecting remote northern communities, helping reduce the cost of living, enabling natural resource exploration and development, promoting scientific research, and supporting Canada’s strong sovereignty claims. As the northern-most segment of an envisioned highway through the Mackenzie Valley, it is an important step in turning northern potential into national prosperity.”

The Honourable Tom Beaulieu
Minister of Transportation

Associated Links

• Construction of Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway Well Underway
• PM marks start of construction on historic roadway
• Minister Aglukkaq Confirms New Funding For Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway 

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/plan-eng.html.

To learn more about the Government of Canada’s focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada’s Economic Action Plan at http://www.eap.gc.ca.

Learn more about the innovative engineering techniques used during the winter construction of the Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway at http://inuviktotuk.dot.gov.nt.ca.

Contacts

Vincent Rabault
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838

Megan Holsapple
Communications
Department of Transportation
Government of the Northwest Territories
867-873-7712

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
media@infc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter at @INFC_eng

Mr. Speaker, improving procurement services is helping the Government of the Northwest Territories achieve this Assembly’s goal of more effective and efficient government. By strengthening our procurement practices we are making sure that local businesses can benefit from government contracting opportunities and that our high standards of fiscal responsibility are maintained.

On April 1st, the Procurement Shared Services Centre in the Department of Public Works and Services began operating government-wide in order to better support these goals.

Government-wide operations followed the successful launch of the Centre in Yellowknife in June 2013. The Centre brought together a team of professionals who were previously located in individual departments. This has made it possible for the GNWT to maximize and build upon the skills of its employees while also providing a more efficient, consistent and transparent procurement experience for the business community. The Centre is positioned to focus on procuring goods and services at reasonable prices while considering key environmental and social benefits such as worker health and safety, energy efficiency, minimal packaging, or other sustainability aspects over the entire life-cycle of the product or service.

An important part of this initiative is bringing procurement support to the regions in order to better meet the needs of our departments and the local business community throughout the territory. As of April 1st, the Procurement Shared Services Centre has consolidated tender desks operating in Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Hay River and Inuvik that are responsible for the distribution and receipt of all government tenders, including construction.

In addition to consolidated tender desks, new fully dedicated procurement positions have been established in these communities as well. These regional positions have created employment and training opportunities for new and current regional employees. With the support of the entire Procurement Shared Services Centre team, these employees are handling all procurements of goods and services estimated to exceed $5,000 in value on behalf of our GNWT departments and the NWT Housing Corporation, excluding contracts for construction.

To give Members an idea of the volume of work being undertaken by the Procurement Shared Services Centre, over 900 procurement service requests have been received  with  710 contracts awarded for a total value of $79.2 million along with 289 tender and RFP documents being handled by the consolidated tender desks on behalf of our clients.

Mr. Speaker, GNWT staff in other departments also benefit by being freed up to focus on program delivery, while our dedicated procurement offices offer a consistent single-window location for the business community to access tender and contracting opportunities with our government.

An important focus of this initiative is to improve our procurement management by providing professional support to our departments and professional services to the public. Training, development and the implementation of best practices will continue to be important as we realize the full benefits of this initiative.

The Centre has already provided training to more than 630 government employees, has established a Quality Assurance function and has gone through Fairness Commissioner training. The Centre also focuses on providing training and workshop opportunities to the business community.

Workshops have been delivered in the communities of Inuvik, Hay River and Yellowknife on “How to do Business with the GNWT” with 46 representatives from local businesses having attended.     The Centre also sponsored a very successful proposal writing workshop in collaboration with the Supply Chain Management Association of the Northwest Territories and continues to work with the Association, as well as local chambers of commerce, to explore ways to further improve how the business community can access government contracting opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, Procurement Shared Services is another step in making our government more effective and efficient while decentralizing government positions and ensuring socially responsible economic development, all priorities of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, a skilled workforce is a prerequisite for growing a strong, diversified economy in this territory and our government is doing its part by supporting training and certification programs. This year marks the 50th anniversary of apprenticeship training and certification in the Northwest Territories. Since 1964 more than 2600 apprentices have been trained and certified as journeypersons in the NWT.

This marks 50 years of success in the NWT and we will be celebrating in every region as part of Skilled Trades and Technology Week from November 3rd to 7th. We will be hosting awards presentations to recognize excellence achieved by apprentices and recognize employers and journeypersons for their contributions to the success of the apprenticeship program.

There is a bright future for skilled tradespeople in the NWT and partners like employers and journeypersons are helping us prepare NWT residents to take advantage of that. In fact, Mr. Speaker, partnerships are key in all the work we do in labour force development. Partnerships with Aboriginal governments, industry, Skills Canada NWT, Aurora College and the Mine Training Society contribute to that strength.

Partnerships with the Government of Canada are also critical and have led to labour market agreements aimed at developing a skilled workforce and providing all Northerners with training and employment opportunities.

This year I have signed three labour market agreements with the federal government: the new Canada-Northwest Territories Job Fund Agreement; renewal of the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers Agreement; and the new Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities.

These three agreements will provide comprehensive training, education and opportunities for our employers, our older workers, our adult workers, and critical under-represented groups in our labour market such as Aboriginal people, youth, women, income assistance recipients, entrants/re-entrants into the labour force, and immigrants.

The economy of the Northwest Territories is growing, and our programs must support that growth. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is taking a systematic look at adult and postsecondary education and skills training in the NWT.  We want to improve employment success for NWT residents, close the skill gaps for in-demand jobs, and more effectively respond to the requirements of NWT employers and industry.

As well, Mr. Speaker, as we improve the collection and sharing of information from students, we are able to review the skill sets of Northern students studying at post-secondary institutions and match them with meaningful and rewarding jobs with our government.

Mr. Speaker, these investments and initiatives will complement our work with our partners to build on existing programs and services to ensure that NWT residents have the skills, knowledge and opportunities to participate fully in the vibrant, sustainable Northern economy the Government of the Northwest Territories is working to create.

Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, with viable markets, a healthy stock of freshwater fish, and growing interest, we are working with our partners and the fishers on Great Slave Lake to breathe new life into the Northwest Territories fishing industry. Today, I am pleased to share with Members some of the steps we are taking to encourage the resurgence of the NWT fishing industry.

The NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy recommended expanding three essential elements of the NWT fishing industry: the markets, the infrastructure and the workforce.  Mr. Speaker, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is now taking steps to implement those recommendations. 

First off, we are working to establish a stronger commercial market for our fish here in the NWT.

Growing the demand within our territory will provide new income streams for the industry, support import substitution, and lessen our dependence on export markets.

We will be launching a campaign within the NWT to build the profile for fish harvested in the territory. This will include the design of a new brand, promotional items, recipe cards, sales information, and posters.

ITI is also using its Northern Food Development Program to move more fish into communities around Great Slave Lake and into the Beaufort Delta.

Revitalizing infrastructure is another area for improvement.

We have committed $200,000 this year to develop a building and financing plan in support of a fishery for Great Slave Lake and Kakisa. The intent is to leverage partnerships to design and construct a new export-grade plant for the fishery. We have identified $1.5 million in our 2015/16 business plan to help stimulate this development and look forward to working with our partners to move this important project forward.

Mr. Speaker, the third element to strengthening the NWT fishing industry is increasing the workforce.

It takes a great deal of skill to operate successfully within the fishing industry and I commend the Northerners who persevere season after season.In the summer of 2013 there was a total of 34 fishers from the NWT fishing on Great Slave Lake.

We are developing a strategy to attract new fishers from both inside and outside of the NWT. During the summer of 2013, seven individuals from Manitoba and Alberta launched vessels in Great Slave Lake as part of our fishery. Their harvest represented over 30 percent of the entire fishery’s income, totalling $1 million for the summer of 2013.

Through the revitalization of markets and infrastructure, we will grow our local workforce, and by recruiting beyond our borders we will help this industry reach its full potential.

Recent changes in provincial legislation and regulation in Alberta and Saskatchewan may create an added incentive for fishers from these provinces to consider moving their commercial fishing operations to the NWT, where we continue to work hard to grow the fishing industry. As interest and participation in our Great Slave Lake fishery grows, so will the availability of product, employment and local economies.

This government has worked alongside the NWT Fishermen’s Federation and the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation to harvest and market fish from Great Slave Lake and Kakisa. We continue to serve local industry through these partnerships and the experience, knowledge and input they bring to the table.

The objective of the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy is not simply to support small businesses in our territory, but also to establish competitive business environments in our regions and communities in which viable economic prospects can be identified, developed and realized.

Mr. Speaker, new markets are emerging for Great Slave Lake fish and, with them, new opportunities for those working in this sector.  We are acting to stimulate a new era of self-sufficiency for the NWT’s fishery, and return it to the leading economic contributor it once was.

These developments are helping to create a diversified economy that provides all communities in the NWT with opportunities and choices.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, November 6-12, 2014 is National Seniors’ Safety Week and it is a good opportunity to remember the important role that Seniors and Elders play in our communities.

Elders are the heart of our communities, providing guidance, care for children, and serving as volunteers.  But as they age, Seniors often require a greater level of support than others.

The Government has taken several steps to restructure our system so that it is responsive, comfortable and efficient when it comes to meeting the needs of Seniors. 

Mr. Speaker we are not alone in trying to find innovative ways to offer programs and services for Seniors. Every province and territory is facing a growing Seniors’ population, and working to find ways to support Seniors so they can remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.  At a recent Health Ministers meeting I heard firsthand the challenges my provincial colleagues face in providing care to an aging population.  We share those challenges and also face our own unique issues.

Elders who live in small, remote communities do not have access to the same range of services, medical care and social supports, that are available in larger centers. Seniors may also experience a variety of limitations that hinder their ability to connect with family and friends and participate within their communities, resulting in social isolation. These limitations may be due to personal circumstances as well as barriers at a systemic level.

We have considerable work to do, however we have made some great strides for Seniors. In November 2013 we completed a continuing care review providing us with key information on our current continuing care services and direction to take in moving forward in a focused and supportive way to reduce barriers and address gaps in care and service delivery. We also released a Strategic Framework, “Our Elders: Our Communities”, in May 2014.

Mr. Speaker, Our Elders, Our Communities, will help guide our actions as we work together with external partners and other departments to ensure Seniors can live safely and independently as active members of our communities. Rather than developing one single action plan, we will develop multiple action plans focusing on different priority areas that support aging in place and long-term care.

The GNWT already has a number of programs that help Seniors continue to live independently and participate in their communities while staying in their own homes or rental units; including providing public housing to eligible Seniors through the NWT Housing Corporation. Rents for Seniors, who receive the Canada Pension Plan income, in public housing are capped at a maximum of 80 dollars to help to ensure that affordability issues do not limit their ability to continue to live independently.   For Seniors with additional income, the first 1,000 dollars per month is exempt in calculating rent.  There are presently about 650 Seniors living in public housing.

Seniors who own their home may take advantage of the Housing Corporation’s CARE program, which provides financial assistance for making necessary repairs and enhancements to homes. The Corporation also provides assistance to homeowners to undertake preventative maintenance or emergency repairs. Seniors with disabilities may also receive assistance to make accessibility modifications, like installing grab bars or wheelchair ramps, to support independent living. Through the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, low to modest income Seniors may apply for a home heating subsidy that helps them with the cost of heating their homes. Education, Culture and Employment also offers the NWT Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit to low income Seniors to help pay for living costs. The program provides a monthly payment to Seniors and is automatically available to eligible Seniors who are receiving Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement or the Spouse’s Allowance from the federal government.

Seniors who own their homes are also eligible to apply for property tax relief under the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act.  This program is administered by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and aims to support Seniors who want to remain in their homes as they age. Applications for property tax relief are accepted on an annual basis and can be picked up at community government offices and regional Municipal and Community Affairs offices.

Ensuring that Elders in small communities receive all of the support and services to which they are entitled is an important role performed by Government Services Officers.  Government Services Officers in 18 small communities conduct weekly visits to Elders and provide support, often in the Elder’s Aboriginal language.   This can range from opening and reading mail, assisting Elders in making applications or renewing eligibility for both territorial and federal programs, to connecting Elders with other service providers in their community.

The Department of Health and Social Services is working in partnership with community organizations like the NWT Seniors’ Society to identify other ways to help, like programs to help people shovel walkways or get groceries to help them live in their homes for as long as they can.

In addition to the efforts to strengthen home and community care services, we must review and prepare for the increasing demand for facility-based long-term care including dementia and extended care and to improve and enhance supports for respite care, palliative care, geriatric assessment and restorative care.

We’re expanding our complement of long-term care facilities so that this service is available in every region, allowing our Seniors and Elders to be closer to their families and their homes, which we have heard is what they want.

We are in the process of adding new long-term care beds in the NWT. New facilities in the communities of Behchoko and Norman Wells will provide 27 additional beds within our territorial system to support our aging population.

We established a dedicated territorial dementia facility four years ago to support Seniors who have developed dementia and to support their families in dealing with this devastating disease.

We have made other improvements to care delivery and supports for Seniors.

We have updated our continuing care standards, to ensure consistent service delivery across supportive living, home care and long-term care programs no matter where you receive services. We are continuing focused work related to our Falls Prevention Program, which includes the development of effective tools to prevent falls in the homes of older adults. We have established focused activities related to home care safety through an integrated approach to case management and coordination of services. We are piloting a Flexible Respite Model which will allow us to gradually expand caregiver support services to communities across the NWT.

I am especially proud of our partnerships with the NWT Parks and Recreation Association and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to deliver the Elders in Motion Program. This Program is a series of fitness training programs to enhance their ability to lead active lifestyles.

We are also partnering with the NWT Housing Corporation to introduce supportive living housing for Seniors in small NWT communities. The design of these facilities will allow barrier-free independent living accommodations with a common space for delivering social programs, meals, Elders in Motion and home care supports.  Construction of these new Seniors independent living facilities are starting this year in Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Fort Liard. These facilities will contain nine units including the caretaker. Similar facilities will be built in Whati and Fort Good Hope in 2015-16.

We are partnering with AVENS through a joint steering committee on their AVENS Pavilion expansion plans. This steering committee is working on the documentation required for the government for consideration in the capital planning process.

We will be looking to other jurisdictions for their best practices, in particular how to support and promote aging in place.  We continue to participate in federal, provincial, territorial working groups, and look forward to the Council of the Federation Chair’s Initiative on Aging to look at the impacts of an aging population on Canada’s social and economic future. We will also look to the dementia research being carried out by the Canadian Institute of Health Research on behalf of federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Health to help guide our own efforts.

We will continue to strengthen our home and community care services, and respond to the increasing demand for facility-based long-term care, including dementia and extended care. We need to improve supports for respite, palliative, and restorative care as well as geriatric assessment.

Working together with our many partners we can support our Seniors and Elders so that they can continue to make valuable contributions to our communities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

(Check against delivery)

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.  I would like to thank Councilor Cecilia Beaulieu from the Yellowknives Dene First Nation for her welcoming remarks.  On behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, I would like to also welcome you here this evening to discuss the energy opportunities and challenges facing the Northwest Territories today.

I first learned of the term “Charrette” when we held the first Energy Charrette two years ago to develop our Energy Plan and the Power System Plan. The 2012 Charrette brought together community representatives, Aboriginal governments, experts in the field of energy, industry, governments and non-government organizations to discuss the opportunities and challenges of providing energy in the north and to directly contribute to the development of energy policy and planning.

The challenges discussed in 2012 are the same challenges we are faced with today. The high cost of energy and the impact on our cost of living was a central theme.  In response to this concern, the Power System Plan reflected a proposed transmission project to connect our North and South Slave electricity systems to the southern grid. This was seen as the type of transformational change required to reduce our cost of electricity.

Two years have passed, we have learned that a transmission grid connection to the south is beyond our fiscal capacity, and our rising cost of energy has not been abated. This was highlighted by the low water situation in the Snare hydro system and yet another proposed increase in electricity rates of 13% to cover the cost of additional diesel generation.

I have to say, I heard loud and clear the level of public outcry over this proposed rate increase. I heard it in the media, I heard it from Members of the Legislative Assembly.

While this rate increase was caused by low water conditions that occur regularly, every 12 to 15 years or so, I think it was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

In response, the Government of the Northwest Territories took the extraordinary step of funding the estimated $20 million in costs due to low water conditions.

This brings me to the purpose of the 2014 Energy Charrette. We need to recalibrate our plans. Substantial subsidies are not sustainable and we need to consider the approach we take to energy in the long term.

Minister Miltenberger will speak some more about the long term approach, but it is clear that we need to consider a change if our communities are going to be sustainable, with a reasonable cost of living.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has made substantial investments in energy over the past three years:

• The Northwest Territories leads the country in the installation of commercial-sized wood pellet boilers that has spurred the development of an industry. Large Government of the Northwest Territories facilities now have heating costs equivalent to about 60 cents per litre of heating oil;
• The Government of the Northwest Territories has made substantial investments in enhancing the programs provided by the Arctic Energy Alliance, including the establishment of regional offices;
• There is a cutting edge solar-diesel hybrid system, backed up by batteries, currently being installed in Colville Lake; and
• Last year in Inuvik, we commissioned the first arctic Liquid Natural Gas facility in North America.

There is much that the Government of the Northwest is doing, but I think that we do not communicate with communities enough on our various initiatives. I would like to see greater efforts made in this area.

Our government is committed to change, including our government’s approach to energy projects, policy and planning. Effective April 1, 2015, energy functions across government will be restructured and consolidated within the Department of Public Works and Services.

We chose to consolidate energy within Public Works and Services because it is a project management focused department and we need greater efforts towards developing local and renewable energy projects that can help us reduce our reliance upon imported diesel.

One of the outcomes from the 2012 Energy Charrette was continued involvement of communities and Aboriginal governments in energy policy and planning discussions. I am pleased to see a number of representatives in attendance this evening who have agreed to participate in detailed discussions tomorrow.

The Government of the Northwest Territories also appreciates the input from those folks who have travelled here to contribute to our discussion. It is important to consider a variety of perspectives and emerging ideas as we chart our energy future.

You will hear shortly from Mr. Marlo Raynolds, former Executive Director of the Pembina Institute and currently Vice President of BluEarth Energy, a firm specializing in renewable energy systems.

I would also like to acknowledge:

• Our Member of Parliament, Mr. Dennis Bevington. Dennis has held a great interest in energy issues since I have known him and developed an Energy Strategy for the Northwest Territories a number of years ago;
• Mr. Axel Lambion of Lambion Energy Solutions has travelled to Yellowknife from Germany. Lambion specializes in biomass systems and has developed over 3,000 biomass plants around the world;
• Ms. Anouk Kendall, President of Decentralized Energy Canada, a non-profit association promoting local energy systems that can work for small communities;
•  Ms. Liezl Van Wyk, Manager Operational Excellence with Diavik Diamond Mine. Ms. Van Wyk was responsible for the development of the wind farm at Diavik; and
• Members of the Canadian High Arctic Research station and researchers from Carleton University who are developing a ‘State of Arctic Energy’ report and who will share some of the latest developments in applying emerging energy technologies in the north tomorrow.

We also have a number of northern business representatives, non-government organizations, and others who are prepared to contribute to the discussion.

Thank you all for your time and agreeing to share your insights as we consider our path forward in the Northwest Territories.

This evening we are here to set some context and to engage in a public discussion. When we decided to hold this Energy Charrette, three questions came to mind:

1. Is there more we can do in the short term to help residents and businesses cope with rising energy costs?
2. Are there other actions or potential programs that the Government of the Northwest Territories should consider?
3. What should be our approach to transforming our energy systems in the long term?

It will be important as we undertake these discussions to take current realities and research into account, particularly when it comes to understanding the costs to implement any solution and the length of time it will take before it has paid for itself.

I will look forward to the public discussion later this evening and to the various perspectives on these three questions.

I noted earlier that the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to change where it is required. We are currently in the second year of our three year energy plan, but if we need to change next year, 2015-2016, our government will commit to doing that.

In conclusion, I would like to thank everyone for joining us this evening and I would like to offer my encouragement to the Charrette participants as you engage in your discussions. I look forward to drawing upon your experience and expertise and to seeing the results.