Northwest Territories News

YELLOWKNIFE (June 30, 2015) – Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty played host to two national meetings in Yellowknife this week; the annual meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) and a national CMEC Aboriginal Educators’ Symposium.

The CMEC Aboriginal Educators’ Symposium brought together new and experienced Aboriginal educators and Elders from across the country to discuss how best to attract and retain Aboriginal teachers.  Research indicates that hiring Aboriginal teachers enriches learning and produces positive results for students, especially Aboriginal students, who benefit from learning from educators who share their culture and traditions.  , who play a pivotal role in reducing the academic achievement gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students.

“Aboriginal educators are a positive influence on their students and will play a pivotal role in reducing the academic achievement gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students,” said Minister Lafferty. “To ensure more Aboriginal people become educators, we needed to listen closely to, and learn from, the true experts on this topic — Aboriginal teachers themselves.”

Symposium delegates presented their findings on teacher recruitment, training and retention to education ministers at the conclusion of their working sessions. A report on the symposium will be released in the coming months.

While Aboriginal educators met, ministers heard about the pan-Canadian education-related recommendations in the recent report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada, one of which calls on CMEC to maintain their commitment to Aboriginal education issues.  Ministers heard a presentation by the TRC Commissioner from the NWT, Dr. Marie Wilson and fellow Commissioner Chief Wilton Littlechild, who outlined the damaging impacts that residential schools continue to have on families and communities today.  Dr. Wilson stressed the necessity of ensuring that all educators and all students – Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike – learn about this dark chapter of Canadian history, understanding that this is not just an Aboriginal issue.  The Commissioners emphasized that increased awareness and mutual respect is essential to make meaningful progress on reconciliation.

Minister Lafferty is currently co-leading CMEC’s Aboriginal Education Plan in partnership with the new Alberta Minister of Education, the Honourable David Eggen.  Moving forward, provincial and territorial education ministers will ensure that curricula in all provincial and territorial school systems include the history and legacy of residential schools.  They also agreed to work towards ensuring that all Canadian educators – no matter who they teach, what they teach or where they teach – will learn about the history of residential schools in Canada during their pre-service and/or in-service training.

Another notable outcome of CMEC discussions was the approval-in-principle of a renewed intergovernmental agreement for the CMEC, a process which was led by the Northwest Territories.  The renewed agreement includes the decision to enable the three northern territories – Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut – to serve as Chair of CMEC in the future.

“This was not possible in the past and marks an important step in the evolution of the territories’ role in the Canadian federation,” added Minister Lafferty.

Media inquiries:

Jacqueline McKinnon
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Department of Education, Culture, and Employment
Northwest Territories
Cell: 867-446-6002
Tel.: 867-920-6222
E-mail: Jacqueline_McKinnon@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (June 30, 2015) – The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) will support 12 mineral exploration projects in the North Slave and Sahtu regions this year. These include diamond and gold exploration projects led by both prospectors and exploration companies in the Slave Geological Province, and a silver – IOCG (iron oxide – copper – gold) project southeast of Great Bear Lake. The latter project is being conducted by DEMCo Limited Partnership, a fully-owned company of Yellowknife-based Denendeh Investments Incorporated.

“We know our territory is rich in minerals, but we are still under-explored,” said David Ramsay, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. “Prospecting maximizes the return on our investment through innovative and effective exploration. We are open for business with socially responsible companies that are willing to work with us to maximize the benefits for all northerners.”

The funded projects are:

Corporate Program                       Commodity             

TerraX Minerals Inc.                        Gold

Canterra Minerals Corp.                 Diamonds

Panarc Resources Ltd.                   Base Metals, Gold

Proxima Diamonds Corp.               Diamonds

DEMCo L.P.                                      Multiple Metals

GGL Resources Corp.                     Gold, Base Metals

Prospector Program                     Commodity             

Dave Nickerson                               Gold

Penelope Shaw                               Gold

Gary Jaeb                                          Diamonds

Ken Baigent                                      Gold

Nicolas Walker                                 Gold

Wayne Kendrik                                Gold

The Mining Incentive Program was a key recommendation of the Mineral Development Strategy and was modelled on similar successful programs operated by other jurisdictions. It is managed by the Northwest Territories Geological Survey, the territory’s centre for geoscience research and analysis.  The annual budget for the program is $400,000. NWT licensed prospectors are eligible to receive up to $15,000, while mineral exploration companies are eligible to receive up to $100,000 representing 50 percent of eligible expenses. This is the second year of the program’s operation, and in both years prospectors and exploration companies requested more funding than was available.

Strengthening and diversifying the economy by developing a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable economic development and mining strategy is a priority of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

Media inquiries:

Roya Grinsted
Communications Officer
Office of the Premier/Cabinet
Government of the Northwest Territories
Phone: (867) 669-2308

Good Morning distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a pleasure to be here today to speak to you about the Northwest Territories, land of the midnight sun, and spectacular Aurora borealis. A land with massive oil and gas reserves in a wilderness without apparent end.  A land that holds great significance for the rest of Canada; not only by responsibly developing the enormous resources but by embodying that very place your conference is about, the Arctic Border.

Many of you recently saw a Premier’s popularity poll – it was an interesting read. I see that Premier Wall is enjoying first place in this popularity contest. What you might not have noticed, was that none of the northern territories were included in this poll. Now we’ve gotten used to this in the Northwest Territories. Not being included in National polls done in the media. But I’m here today to tell you we are a vital part of this country.

On September 9th last year, the governments of Canada and Nunavut announced that they had found the final resting place of what was later confirmed to be H.M.S. Erebus, one of the ships of the ill-fated Franklin expedition.  Lost almost 179 years ago, the fate of Sir John Franklin and his men has been a mystery which has captured imaginations around the world ever since.

The story of the Franklin Expedition and the many narratives that have collected around it over the years, illustrates something that is often forgotten by many outside the North and that is that international interest in the Arctic is not new. Sir John Franklin was just one of many European explorers that began visiting the Arctic almost 450 years ago when Martin Frobisher made his first voyage in search of the Northwest Passage in 1576.

The intervening years have seen an almost unbroken stream of explorers come North, many of them mariners like yourselves. Their perceptions of the North played a powerful role in shaping the official history and outside understanding of our region and its place in the world.

While the Arctic seems remote and inaccessible, we have connections to the rest of the world that go back hundreds of years.  From our earliest contact, the Aboriginal peoples of the North have known and greeted visitors from many parts of the world.

Far from being isolated and remote, our region has been an important part of the world economy for centuries now.  Early on, visitors to our region recognized the economic potential in our abundant natural resources.  Initial contact quickly developed into active trading relationships that saw Europeans regularly travelling into the North, living and trading among our people.  Northern resources, especially furs, helped to fuel economic growth in Europe, creating wealth and prosperity for its peoples.

Canada’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council over the past two years was an opportunity for us to experience firsthand how that old interest so familiar to us is growing and changing today. We can particularly see it in a growing list of observer nations that are beginning to see opportunities emerging in the Arctic that they wish to influence. Even transnational organizations like the European Union are getting in on the act.

Added to the increasing interest from nation-states and government bodies is growing private interest from non-governmental organizations, environmental lobby groups, business and industry pursuing their own diverse and varied agendas.

As interests multiply and their implications for the Arctic grow more complicated, the need to coordinate and reconcile them becomes ever more important.  At the same time, we need to ensure that they do not clash with legitimate interests of the people who make the Arctic their home.

Events like this one are a useful and valuable forum for furthering understanding of the North and its peoples. That understanding, in turn, is a starting point for the kind of respectful dialogue that needs to take place between Northerners and the rest of the world as we all consider the future of the Arctic and its role in world affairs.

The NWT is a dynamic and evolving territory where the Government of the Northwest Territories and Aboriginal governments are working together to create prosperity for all the people we serve. We have the potential to be an engine of economic growth for this country. We have the potential to be a net contributor to this nation, not to be drawing upon it for support.

Our contribution to this country cannot be measured by GDP alone – the diversity of our land, people, and cultures are unique in confederation. We have 11 official languages, seven regional Aboriginal governments, a land mass of 1,345,000 square kilometers, harsh winters, brilliant summers and some of the best sport fishing in Canada, if not the world.

In the north, we have a vision of strong individuals and communities sharing the benefits and responsibilities of a unified, environmentally sustainable and prosperous Northwest Territories.

This vision is important because they will help to create a territory where our people can prosper and thrive. A territory where our people can enjoy a high quality of life, good health and a healthy environment. A territory where everyone has the support they need to be full participants in their community and to achieve their aspirations for themselves and their families.

We have made good progress towards realizing our vision for this kind of territory. After decades of negotiation and years of preparation, we achieved devolution of authority for land and water in April 2014. Five Aboriginal governments signed onto devolution and are participating in our land and water management decisions.

We broke ground in January of 2014 with Prime Minister Harper for the Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway and we have just returned from highly productive meetings with European space agencies eager to become customers in the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Line and the satellite receiving station it supports in Inuvik.

Ideally positioned to receive data from polar orbiting satellites, the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility is already home to three satellite dishes, with site preparation for a fourth underway and a fifth dish in the planning stages. Remote sensing is an ideal way to monitor the large landmass and long coastline of Canada and data received in Inuvik helps provide information on natural resources, environmental monitoring, shipping and navigation and safety, sovereignty and  security. The fibre line that our government is building will allow for data to be received in real time, increasing the value and usefulness of the Inuvik facility immeasurably.

There is much more to the NWT but those three projects I just mentioned are key to our understanding of the North and what it means to live in one of the most remote places in the world that is becoming more and more accessible with each passing year.

With accessibility comes opportunity, and we all know that with opportunity there is risk. I don’t need to tell this audience that risk identification and mitigation are critical to the success of any mission. It’s the same for my government, we are opening up our territory to bring prosperity to our residents and to the country. With that openness comes even more challenges for our people and our environment.

One of the most significant changes we have seen in our natural environment is the opening of the Northwest Passage. Climate change is an undeniable reality for the Northwest Territories. We live it every day. The Arctic Border is now open like it has never been before and with that come some very real challenges for our remote northern communities and our nations’ security.

With melting sea ice and permafrost degradation, our coastal communities are at risk. Traditionally hunted species are disappearing, infrastructure is breaking down and we have seen some unscheduled visitors from other countries suddenly appear.

But Northerners have always adapted to their circumstances and their environment, surviving one of the harshest climates in the world for thousands of years by maintaining strong communities and cultural practices. And we will adapt to these changing circumstances as well.

We are going to focus on sustainable economic development and on the infrastructure that we need to support it. We need investments in northern transportation, energy and communications infrastructure and sustainable resource development to unlock the economic potential in the NWT.

The Government of the Northwest Territories created a Water Stewardship strategy to ensure the waters of the NWT will remain clean productive and abundant for all time –  a legacy for future generations. Traditional and local knowledge workshops and community-based monitoring have added valuable information to this process.  People in the NWT are experts on the place where they live and work.

As I said earlier about the natural resource potential of the Northwest Territories; We have an abundance of energy resources – oil, gas and hydro. We have diamonds. We have gold, lead, zinc, rare earth elements and uranium. These are resources that the global economy wants and needs to support and sustain growth.

We are the third largest diamond producer in the world.  In fact, diamonds account for almost a quarter of our territory’s GDP.  We already export $2 billion annually in diamonds alone. We have three of Canada’s diamond mines and a fourth one about to be constructed. Our product is recognized as being of the highest quality, and conflict-free.

Renewable energy potential is substantial, including up to 11,000 megawatts of hydroelectric potential.

Our territory is also sitting atop 81.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, with significant plays in all regions. This doesn’t even fully factor in recent announcements about the 200 billion barrels in the Canol and Bluefish Shales.

We have seven billion known barrels of oil.  Production is underway in Norman Wells and in the Cameron Hills.  The prospects for more production are real, and require only the capital investment and infrastructure to realize them.

The potential undiscovered nearshore reserves in the Mackenzie River Delta include an additional 10.5 billion barrels of oil, 87 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 4 billion barrels of natural gas liquids.  We also have gas hydrate in the Beaufort Sea.

The irony for us is that while we have what the world wants, we don’t have many ways to get to it, or to get our resources to the world. You can’t sell what you can’t ship, and our territory faces an estimated $3 billion infrastructure deficit. Our resources are going untapped because we lack the roads, airports, sea ports and other infrastructure to bring them to market.

For years we have seen our resource potential lie dormant and undeveloped, our businesses idle and economy stifled while we wait for the promised boom that is always coming but has yet to arrive. We have all seen firsthand the kinds of challenges that can slow a project down and delay economic development.

Northerners are tired of waiting.

We have no interest in seeing our resources stranded another 40 years. We want to start enjoying the benefits of a strong, robust economy based on responsible and sustainable development of our resource wealth. It is time for the Northwest Territories to take its place in Confederation as a “have” jurisdiction contributing to national growth and prosperity.

Addressing the northern infrastructure deficit is a first, crucial step. As you’ve heard, we are in the process of building the Inuvik-Tuk highway with the assistance of the Government of Canada. This highway is just the first step in completing the Mackenzie Valley Highway. The next step we are proposing would open up the resource rich central Mackenzie, boosting the Canadian economy and providing years of employment for skilled workers.

We are also studying the potential of a seasonal overland road into the Slave Geologic Province and Nunavut. This project would extend the life of the NWT’s diamond mines and make new exploration and development projects in this mineral rich region more feasible. We have already been talking to the Government of Nunavut about how connecting to a road there could help to unlock stranded resources in that territory, multiplying the effect of our own infrastructure investments, and multiplying the benefit to Canada.

Our resources have been stranded for too long. Transportation routes in all forms and all directions are key to getting our resources to market. We cannot wait to put our critical northern infrastructure in place. We need more roads to resources and I am pleased that the federal government has recently announced $96 million dollars for investment in several highways and major roads in the Northwest Territories under the new Building Canada Plan.

While we are extremely pleased with this investment, we will continue to seek federal partnership in nation-building projects such as a deep sea port that would allow the Northwest Territories to move its resources, while also providing a necessary base for Canadian security operations.

We are not the only ones who see a need for increased federal attention to Northern waters. Last year, the Centre for International Governance Innovation released a policy brief called “The Northwest Territories and Arctic Maritime Development in the Beaufort Area”. The report called the Northwest Territories, “arguably the most promising economic region in the Canadian Arctic in terms of public and private potential, scale of resources, variety of transport routes, well-functioning territorial government and close cooperation with neighbours.” Our territory was noted for its impressive achievements in responsible resource and community development, and devolution was cited as an important step that will enhance our economic self-reliance.

For all these positive predictions though, the Centre for International Governance Innovation, stated that the lack of adequate transport corridors and infrastructure arising from complex permitting regulations and governance is preventing the territory from fully realizing its economic potential. The report’s authors called for greater federal fiscal leadership and planning and recommend the Government of the Northwest Territories use devolution as a new opportunity for enhanced land/marine partnerships with the federal government, similar to federal-provincial nation building transportation projects in the South.

I couldn’t agree more, and have been saying throughout my term that the Northwest Terri

YELLOWKNIFE (June 26, 2015) – Weather conditions are extremely hot and dry throughout the Northwest Territories. A fire ban is in effect for the following parks:

• Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park
• Blackstone Territorial Park
• Fort Providence Territorial Park

In addition to the fire ban, Little Buffalo River Falls Territorial Park is closed to the public until further notice.

Use of camp stoves and enclosed barbecues is permitted. Any device that uses propane to supply a burner for heating and/or cooking is also permitted; such devices must be used within a fire pit in a campsite or wayside park and the fire cannot be more than 0.5 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres in height.

Visit www.nwtfire.com  for more information on fire conditions within the NWT. Report smoke or fire to 1-877-NWT-FIRE (698-3473). Residents should contact their municipalities for information on fire bans within community limits.

For more information:

Megan Holsapple 

Senior Communications Officer
Industry, Tourism and Investment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 873-7340
Email: megan_holsapple@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (June 26, 2015) – The Government of the Northwest Territories’ Film Rebate Program is making its mark throughout the NWT. With two productions approved, and a third conditionally approved, films are being made in every region of the NWT this year.

“The northern film industry brings our spectacular landscapes and unique cultures to the world,” said David Ramsay, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. “I am pleased to provide support for local filmmakers, technical crew, and talent, behind and in front of the camera.”

Way Up North (working title), a feature documentary from Longyearbyen Consulting and Media Inc., has already started production. It is filming across the NWT in Yellowknife, Norman Wells, Inuvik, Hay River, Fort Smith and Fort Simpson and will continue with on-location production throughout the summer. The other approved production, The Sun at Midnight, an adventure-drama feature film produced by Jill and Jackfish Productions, has secured its budget and will begin filming in Fort McPherson this fall. A third project, conditionally approved, is working to secure its full budget.

These productions are partially funded by the NWT Film Rebate Program, which identifies the film sector as a priority area to invest and create viable economic opportunities. The program is accepting applications until July 31, and additional information is available on the NWT Film Commission’s website.

The NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy highlights the importance of exposing the NWT, its residents, adventures, and stories through film and television.  Investments in the film industry strengthen and diversify the NWT economy, a priority of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

Media inquiries:

Roya Grinsted
Communications Officer
Office of the Premier/Cabinet
Government of the Northwest Territories
Phone: (867) 669-2308

TSIIGEHTCHIC (June 26, 2015) – Residents and visitors celebrated the grand opening of the Tsiigehtchic Tourist Centre at an event hosted by the community and the newly formed Tsiigehtchic Tourism Society.

The Centre will be open from late June to early September and features a shower and kitchen facility to accommodate paddlers on the Mackenzie and Arctic Red Rivers.

“The Tsiigehtchic Tourist Centre is an excellent example of a community-led tourism initiative,” said David Ramsay, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI). “The Inuvik-to-Tuktoyaktuk Highway provides an opportunity to increase tourism in the Beaufort Delta region, and Tsiigehtchic will be well positioned to welcome visitors. Congratulations to the community and the Tsiigehtchic Tourism Society for their foresight and hard work.”

During the event, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute exhibited a replica of the 13,650-year-old steppe bison skull found in Tsiigehtchic in 2007.

Since 2012, ITI has provided $153,000 to establish the Tsiigehtchic Tourist Centre.  Supporting new ventures in communities across the NWT is one of the GNWT’s Tourism 2015 Plan’s objectives, distributing benefits as widely as possible to diversify the economy and build a strong and sustainable future for the Northwest Territories, priorities of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

Media inquiries:

Megan Holsapple 

Senior Communications Officer
Industry, Tourism and Investment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 873-7340
Email: megan_holsapple@gov.nt.ca

Thank you for joining me, whether here in person or via telephone, for this media update.

I am here to talk to you about the 104th Annual General Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada – or CMEC, for short. I am very proud to be able to host delegates from all over Canada over the coming days.

This meeting is also very special to me on a personal level. That’s because at last year’s CMEC meeting, my Alberta counterpart and I submitted a joint national strategy to speed up CMEC’s efforts to reduce the gap in academic achievement and graduation rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students.

The plan was approved and we are busy implementing its actions.

Our national plan builds on existing work and challenges all of us to take concrete actions that focus on the history and legacy of residential schools and related teacher training.
We have invited Aboriginal educators and Elders from across Canada to tell us how to encourage more Aboriginal people to pursue a teaching career. We are also asking what we can do to ensure that seasoned Aboriginal educators remain in the profession. We have approximately 75 delegates coming from every corner of the country to participate.

We need more Aboriginal teachers who serve as positive role models and mentors and more aboriginal students to choose teaching as a career.

Culturally relevant education and authentic educators are so important when it comes to reconciliation.

As Justice Murray Sinclair of the TRC stated, “there can be no reconciliation without education.”

This is a principle the NWT fully supports.

One concrete way of doing that was by launching the first comprehensive mandatory residential schools teaching resource in Canada in 2012, in partnership with the Government of Nunavut, the TRC and the Legacy of Hope.

Using survivors’ stories, the mandatory curriculum resource explores the history and legacy of residential school and a path to reconciliation. It was well received across the country, and a number of jurisdictions are following suit.

All teachers in the NWT have now been trained in the history and legacy of residential schools and we have taken important steps to ensure that all teachers get the training in order to be able to teach here.

We are very pleased to have been the first in the country to address this much needed action, one that is central to the TRC recommendations.

Recommendation 63 in fact calls on CMEC to maintain an annual commitment to Aboriginal education issues, including the development of residential school curricula, sharing best practises on teaching students about residential schools and Aboriginal history and identifying teacher-training needs to teach these subject matters.

A lot of work supports the 94 recommendations of the TRC and all governments will require some time to understand them and to act on them.

The important thing is that we accept our respective responsibilities to do our part and right the wrongs that so many aboriginal people have experienced. We cannot change the past but we can sure work on building a better future for all Canadians.

And we have taken the first steps and will continue to walk alongside the TRC, as partners.

As a matter of fact, the TRC has accepted our invitation to join education Ministers from across the country to continue our dialogue.

We are pleased to have them by our side as we take the next step in our journey to honour the work of the TRC and all the people who have shared their stories with them.

It is now up to us to do our part in building a just society that all Canadians can be proud of.

I am looking forward to both the discussions next week with my fellow Ministers, and to hear of the outcomes from the Aboriginal Educators’ Symposium.

Masi.

NORMAN WELLS, NT (June 25, 2015) – Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Premier Bob McLeod and Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Chair of the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated (SSI), met to sign an Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding in Norman Wells yesterday.

“The signing of this agreement strengthens the relationship between the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated and the Government of the Northwest Territories, which is a priority for the 17th Assembly,” said Premier McLeod. “This agreement represents a commitment to the way we will work together as partners to achieve shared priorities that support the Sahtu.”

“The Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated is pleased to take this step towards building a stronger working relationship with the GNWT. We know that the work our governments do can only benefit from closer collaboration, and this intergovernmental agreement will benefit the people of the Sahtu and ultimately help strengthen this region,” added Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Chair of the SSI. “We look forward to our inaugural meeting under this agreement later this year.”

The Agreement formalizes the government-to-government relationship and ensures there is a mutually agreed upon process in place to discuss important topics in an established forum. The Agreement has a five year term and commits the SSI and GNWT elected leaders to meet two times a year to consider a range of topics including: capacity development, improving education, regional economic development opportunities, land and resource management, and infrastructure planning and development in the Sahtu settlement area.

The Agreement sets out the protocols for how meetings will be organized, how often leaders will meet, how officials will develop work plans together and how information will be shared with each other and publicly.

For more information:

Roya Grinsted
Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 669-2308
Email: roya_grinsted@gov.nt.ca

David Little
Executive Director
Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
Tel: (867) 589-4719

YELLOWKNIFE (June 19, 2015) – On June 15-16, 2015 the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) hosted the NWT Association of Communities (NWTAC), the Local Government Administrators of the NWT (LGANT), and community government representatives to discuss ongoing partnerships and how we can improve supports for community governments in the Northwest Territories.

The goal of the meetings was to strengthen partnerships through shared understanding of mandate, roles, and responsibilities in supporting community governments. Through these regular tri-party meetings all partner organizations can examine areas of overlap to build partnerships as well as share successes and challenges in developing best practices in community governance.

“The NWTAC and LGANT are critical partners in providing quality training, services, and supports to community governments across the NWT. Together we will continue to support our stakeholders and build capacity in community governments across the territory,” said Tom R. Williams, Deputy Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Delegates at the meeting also took time to discuss ongoing training programs for community governments, and the fall election season that will see elections held federally, territorially and with a number of municipalities.  The meetings also explored options for enhancing support and providing better communication to community governments and residents.

“One of the key factors in maintaining such an effective partnership is evaluating progress and trying to find areas for improvement. All three organizations are working together to strengthen community governments and community governance throughout the territory.” said Grant Hood, President of LGANT.

MACA, NWTAC and LGANT committed to continue regular and ongoing discussions to improve the service and support provided to community governments.

“Our common relationships are based on trust, respect and open communication, which is essential in our collective efforts to improve community governments”, said Charles Furlong, Mayor of Aklavik and President of the NWTAC.

Continuing to have joint discussions with our stakeholders and partner organizations supports the goals of the 17th Legislative Assembly of a strong and independent north built on partnerships, and supporting sustainable, vibrant and safe communities.

 For more information, contact:

David Maguire

Communications and Website Advisor
Municipal and Community Affairs
Government of the Northwest Territories
Phone: (867) 920-3092

Shannon Crawley
Communications and Policy Coordinator
Northwest Territories Association of Communities
Phone: (867) 873-8359 ext. 3

Brad Heath

Program Coordinator
Local Government Administrators of the Northwest Territories
Phone: (867) 765-5630

YELLOWKNIFE (June 19, 2015) – A delegation from Northwest Territories travelled to Europe from June 7-12 to promote the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link (MVFL). The delegation included Premier Bob McLeod, Minister J Michael Miltenberger, Minister Robert C McLeod, MLA Robert Hawkins, officials from the federal and territorial governments and a representative from the Northern Lights General Partnership, the contractor for the MVFL.

The delegation visited clients for both the MVFL and the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (ISSF), including:

• Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), Norway Space Agency
• University of Tromso
• Swedish Space Corporation (SSC)
• European Space Agency (ESA)
• Italian Space Agency (ASI)
• Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
• Airbus Defence and Space, Germany
• German Aerospace Centre (DLR)

“The visits to the space agencies and satellite operators confirmed a very high level of international interest in the ISSF and MVFL” said Premier Bob McLeod. “Expansion of the ISSF, supported by the MVFL, will help create new jobs and opportunities in the high-tech sector for residents of the region and the NWT. The GNWT will work with the Aurora Research Institute and the Town of Inuvik to support these emerging business opportunities. In addition, increased connectivity in communities along the MVFL route will support improved delivery of government services, as well as create opportunities for residents to participate in the growing digital economy.”

During the mission, the Government of Canada furthered their discussion and plans with the different space agencies and anticipates more antennas on the site in the near future.

The Government of Canada established the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility in 2010 in collaboration with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and PrioraNet Canada (PNC); it currently has three 13-metre receiving antennas in operation. Site preparation work for a fourth dish is underway and a fifth dish is being planned for summer 2016. National and international interest in the ISSF has increased since construction on the MVFL began, with access to high bandwidth that will be delivered by the MVFL being key to develop the site further.

Construction on the 1200 km MVFL began in January 2015 and over one-third of the cable was installed by April. Construction will continue through the summer and next winter, with the project on schedule to meet its planned in-service date of mid-2016.

Media inquiries:

Roya Grinsted
Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-669-2308
Email: roya_grinsted@gov.nt.ca

Northern Premiers’ Forum (June 16, 2015)—Premier Peter Taptuna, Premier Robert McLeod and Premier Darrell Pasloski met today in Kugluktuk, Nunavut where they discussed shared priorities and continued cooperation in building a better North. At the top of the agenda was territorial infrastructure, which is a key pillar of the Premiers’ joint document, A Northern Vision, and recognized by the three territories as a foundation of strong communities and resilient economies.

While all jurisdictions are facing the costs of aging infrastructure, governments in the North are working to develop infrastructure such as port facilities, airports, highways, housing and energy to support economic drivers including post-secondary education, resource extracting industries, training, science and technology. Premiers agreed on the need for ongoing investment in key infrastructure in the territories to aid economic development and to ensure community access to markets and government services.

In addition, Premiers discussed a range of priorities and areas of collaboration under the following themes.

• Climate change—the Premiers acknowledged the significant investments all three territories continue to make in climate change adaptation and emissions reduction, including cleaner energy production, and technology and innovation.
• Energy—the Premiers emphasized the strong economic potential for the energy resources industry in the territories and look forward to discussing the Canadian Energy Strategy at the meeting of Canada’s Premiers in July in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Northern science—the Premiers recognized the importance of science to the achievement of northern aspirations and have committed to develop a pan-territorial approach to science.

Also at the meeting, Premiers reiterated the importance of work by provinces and territories to ensure that fewer Aboriginal children become part of the child welfare system. Premiers also discussed work at a territorial and pan-Canadian level to end violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Congratulating Minister Aglukkaq on the accomplishments of the Canadian chairmanship of the Arctic Council, Premiers committed to working together to ensure that northern residents’ interests are reflected in the Arctic Council’s work under the U.S. chairmanship, and to continuing to explore opportunities to work with Canada, the Permanent Participants and circumpolar neighbours.

For more information please see the related backgrounder here.

For more information, please contact:

Yasmina Pepa
Chief, Public Affairs
Office of Premier Taptuna
Government of Nunavut
(867) 975-5059
YPepa@gov.nu.ca

Roya Grinsted
Media Relations
Government of the Northwest Territories
867-669-2308
roya_grinsted@gov.nt.ca

Elaine Schiman
Cabinet Communications
Government of Yukon
(867) 633-7961
elaine.schiman@gov.yk.ca

BANFF, ALBERTA (June 12, 2015) – Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) David Ramsay was among those in attendance yesterday at the re-opening of Jacques Cartier Clothier in its new location in the Banff Springs Hotel.

The boutique specializes in the sale of high-end qiviut (muskox wool) garments created from hides sourced exclusively from Inuvialuit harvesters in the Beaufort Delta.

“The qiviut venture behind this boutique is a tangible example of successful collaboration between private industry, Aboriginal community members and the government,” Minister Ramsay told those in attendance. “As a result, we have seen economic opportunities and income for northern harvesters – and with them an opportunity to preserve and promote the culture, tradition and lifestyle that is an intrinsic part of who we are as Northerners.”

With an estimated annual harvest of 1,200 animals, muskox is a main source of meat for subsistence harvesters in the NWT’s remote arctic communities. In May 2014, ITI’s Hide Procurement Program was expanded to include muskox hides and qiviut.

By cultivating partnerships and providing support to harvesters ITI is helping to create a diversified economy that provides all communities with opportunities and choices, a goal of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

Media inquiries:

Drew Williams
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Industry, Tourism and Investment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 920-8696
Email: drew_williams@gov.nt.ca

CALGARY (June 11, 2015) – Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay was in Calgary this morning to speak and meet with investors and oil and gas industry stakeholders at the Global Petroleum Show.

“The NWT is recognized for our world-class inventory of energy resources,” the Minister told delegates in a presentation this morning. “The world is looking for a reliable supply of energy resources, and the NWT is the next frontier.  Our territory’s robust reserves of oil, gas and natural gas liquids may be one of the best new sources of energy for this growing demand.”

The Global Petroleum Show is one of the largest oil and gas industry events in the world, bringing over 50,000 attendees together. This year’s theme is Reimagine, Reinvent, and Reposition. Delegates were particularly interested in learning more about research confirming that the Canol and Bluefish Shale fields in the Central Mackenzie Valley could contain as much as 191 billion barrels of oil.

“We are taking this time to get our house in order, building the partnerships and the infrastructure so they will be in place when prices recover,” said Minister Ramsay. “When development occurs, we want our people, communities and businesses positioned to seize the opportunities that will come.”

The Minister’s presence and presentation at the Global Petroleum Show today serves to advance the 17th Legislative Assembly’s goal of strong and independent north built on partnerships. New partnerships will allow for increased investment in NWT infrastructure and form the backbone of economic development for decades.

Media inquiries:

Roya Grinsted
Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-669-2308
Email: roya_grinsted@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (June 11, 2015) – A major step towards the vision of Best Health, Best Care for a Better Future shared by Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy, the Department of Health and Social Services and all NWT Health and Social Services was taken last week.

On June 4th, 2015; Bill 44: An Act to Amend the Hospital Insurance and Health and Social Services Administration Act received assent in the Legislative Assembly. The legislation will improve patient and client care by enabling health and social services across the NWT to work as one system.

Bill 44 allows for the establishment of a single Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority for the entire health and social services system, recognizing the special status of the Tlicho Community Services Agency, and includes provisions to bring the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority (HRHSSA) in at a later date to accommodate the negotiations required to bring HRHSSA employees into the public service. The Bill also allows for the establishment of Regional Wellness Councils, whose Chairs will come together along with the Chair of the Tlicho Community Services Agency to sit on a Territorial Board of Management to govern the Territorial Authority.

“This marks an important milestone as we work together to improve the health and social services system and achieve our goal of providing the Best Health, Best Care for a Better Future for the people of the NWT,” said Minister Abernethy. “Everything we do is focused upon improving care and services for NWT residents, and giving them a greater voice and influence on the services they receive.”

The Act builds on feedback from the discussion paper, Caring for our People, released in August of 2014, and information sessions held with communities, Aboriginal governments and other stakeholders across the NWT over the last year.

An implementation plan will set out how the department and authorities will continue to work to transform the health and social services system when the Act comes into effect to provide the highest quality care and services and encourage people to make healthy choices to keep individuals, families and communities healthy and strong.

Media inquiries:

Roya Grinsted
Communications Officer
Office of the Premier/Cabinet
Government of the Northwest Territories
Phone: (867) 669-2308
E-mail: Roya_Grinsted@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (June 10, 2015) – The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre officially opens Ice Age Bison Discovery: Our Frozen Past and Thawing Future on Thursday, June 18th at 7:00 p.m.  On exhibit for the first time — a 13,650-year-old steppe bison skull found in Tsiigehtchic, NWT in 2007. This exhibit highlights ice age fossils and the changing landscape of the North.

The exhibit includes a strikingly realistic mural of the NWT ice age bison, created by Vancouver-based paleoartist Julius T. Csotonyi.  Highly regarded as a natural history illustrator, Csotonyi draws on his scientific expertise (PhD in natural sciences) to “restore as realistically as possible the curiously alien environments that earth has hosted in its deep past”.

Csotonyi’s work was recently featured in a special series of stamps by Canada Post, Dinos of Canada. The Royal Canadian Mint also recently commissioned Cstonyi to create phosphorescent and silver engraved prehistoric-themed coins.  Other projects include several life-sized dinosaur murals (up to 150 feet long) for the Royal Ontario Museum’s 2012 exhibit, ‘Ultimate Dinosaurs; Giants from Gondwana’, life-sized murals of dinosaurs for the Dinosaur Hall (2011) at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and most of the artwork for the new Hall of Paleontology at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Join us at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre auditorium to discover how Csotonyi draws on his scientific background to reconstruct ancient worlds through illustration. Ice age mammals, dinosaurs and ancient landscapes will be featured in this informative presentation.

Leading up to the exhibit opening, budding young artists up to 12 years of age are invited to participate in a colouring contest that will be judged by Csotonyi. Prizes will be awarded to the winners in five age categories. Drop by PWNHC to enter the contest or visit http://www.pwnhc.ca/ice-age-bison-colouring-contest/

To see Csotonyi’s work, visit http://csotonyi.com/

For information on the exhibit, visit http://www.pwnhc.ca/

Media inquiries:

Tami Johnson
Communications Specialist
Department of Education, Culture and Employment
Tel: 920-6147
Email: tami_johnson@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (June 8, 2015) – A delegation from the Northwest Territories will travel to Europe from June 7-12, 2015 to promote the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link (MVFL) to potential international clients and customers. The delegation includes Premier Bob McLeod, Minister of Finance J. Michael Miltenberger, Minister Robert C. Mcleod, MLA Robert Hawkins, Chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure and officials from the federal government and Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT).

“The MVFL will enable real-time communication between the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (ISSF) and southern Canada, making it an ideal location for supporting polar-orbiting satellite operations,” said Minister Miltenberger. “As the MVFL moves towards scheduled completion in mid-2016, the next step is to start securing agreements with international clients looking to take advantage of this new state-of-the-art communications link.”

“There are opportunities for the Northwest Territories in the global marketplace,” said Premier Bob McLeod. “Our government has been making it a point to reach out internationally and grow our economy by promoting the NWT’s competitive advantages, like its abundant natural resources, tourism potential and luxury goods. Promoting the MVFL and Inuvik’s potential as a centre for high-tech business is another way to bring international business to our territory.”

“Inuvik is one of the best places in the world for receiving data from satellites in polar orbit,” said Minister McLeod. “Investing in the MVFL will make the ISSF more attractive to the international aerospace and scientific communities, helping create a local high-tech industry that will create new jobs and opportunities for our people.”

“This incredible opportunity will bring investment and diversity to our growing territorial economy and position the NWT as a world partner and leader in communication technology,” said MLA Hawkins.

The delegation will travel to Norway, Sweden, Italy and Germany. Meetings are scheduled with:

• Kongsberg Satellite Services;
• University of Tromso;
• Centre for Integrated Remote Sensing and Forecasting for Arctic Operations;
• Swedish Space Corporation;
• European Space Agency;
• Italian Space Agency;
• Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation;
• Airbus Defence and Space; and
• German Aerospace Center.

Construction on the 1200 km MVFL began in January 2015 and over one-third of the cable was installed by April. Construction will continue through the summer and next winter, with the project on schedule to meet its planned in-service date of mid-2016.

The Inuvik Satellite Station Facility was inaugurated in 2010 and has three 14-metre receiving antennas currently in operation. Site preparation work for a fourth dish is currently underway and a fifth dish is being planned for spring/summer 2016. National and international interest in the ISSF has increased since construction on the MVFL began.

Media inquiries:

Roya Grinsted
Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-669-2308
Email: roya_grinsted@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (June 5, 2015) – The fire ban implemented at the Fred Henne and Yellowknife River Territorial Parks has been lifted.

Campers and those using the parks are asked to follow safe fire practices.

Consistent with the fire ban implemented by the Hamlet of Fort Providence, a fire ban remains in effect at the Fort Providence campground.    

Visit www.nwtfire.com  for more information on fire conditions within the NWT.
Please report smoke or fire to 1-877-NWT-FIRE (698-3473). 

For more information:

Drew Williams
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Industry, Tourism and Investment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 920-8696
Email: Drew_Williams@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (June 5, 2015) – The new Northwest Territories Mining Industry Advisory Board (MIAB) held its inaugural meeting in Yellowknife on June 3, 2015.

Board members agreed that the health of the mineral industry in the NWT is at a critical point. During the current downturn in commodity prices, the NWT must position itself to maximize opportunities presented by a return to higher commodity prices.

“With devolution under our belts, self-determination is in our hands,” Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay said. “We need to ensure employment and business opportunities for our communities are realized from our resource-based economy while continuing to achieve high environmental and social standards. The MIAB will help us to do that.”

During the meeting, members discussed the critical importance of:

• An effective and efficient regulatory system;
• The need for infrastructure development that would foster development;
• Creating more public awareness and education of the importance of mineral development to the NWT economy; and
• Promotion of the NWT’s mineral potential to investors.

The MIAB recommended that the Minister focus on the following key strategic priorities:

• The creation of a leading edge Mineral Resources Act, noting that the NWT is the only jurisdiction in Canada without such an Act;
• The creation and implementation of a public awareness campaign to build public support for mineral exploration and development to grow the economy and create more wealth and prosperity for NWT residents; and
• Investment and promotion of the NWT as a destination for investment by the private sector.

“We share the GNWT’s vision of building a more vibrant mineral resource industry in the NWT,” said Brendan Bell. “Based on this first meeting, we have identified key issues that require immediate action, and we will begin work on those priorities immediately.”

Minister Ramsay announced plans to establish the MIAB earlier this year. The volunteer board will provide non-binding independent strategic advice on the mining and exploration resource sector in the NWT.

MIAB members are:

• Mr. Brendan Bell of Dominion Diamonds Corporation of Yellowknife, NWT (Chair)
• Mr. Darrel Beaulieu of DEMCo Limited Partnership of Yellowknife, NWT
• Mr. Rod Brown of Discovery Mining Services of Yellowknife, NWT
• Ms. Leni Keough of Olivut Resources of Hinton, Alberta
• Mr. Don Bubar of Avalon Rare Metals of Toronto, Ontario
• Mr. John Kearney of Canadian Zinc of Toronto, Ontario

The establishment of the MIAB fulfills a recommendation of the Mineral Development Strategy, a key priority of the 17th Legislative Assembly, and supports the Assembly’s goals of strengthening the economy and creating opportunities in all regions.

Media inquiries:

Roya Grinsted
Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-669-2308
Email: roya_grinsted@gov.nt.ca

Mr. Speaker, earlier this spring the Department of Justice hosted “Together We’re Better”, a conference on community safety planning, networking and building partnerships. Eighty people from across the Northwest Territories attended the two-day conference in Yellowknife. The focus was on small communities and included Elders, chiefs, mayors and senior community officials as well as Community Justice Workers, Aboriginal Court Workers, Corrections staff, Health and Social Services staff and representatives from NGO’s. The knowledge and experience that participants brought to the conference proved to be a key factor in its success.

The conference built on the work that the Department has been doing in partnership with Community Justice Committees and others to share information and develop strong individualized safety plans in our communities. These partnerships have been vital to the crime prevention successes we have had over the past few years with our Community Justice, Court Worker and Victim Services Programs as well as the Pan Territorial Research Project on crime prevention.

The conference “Together We’re Better” highlighted the many Justice programs and supports available to all communities in the NWT. This information was particularly directed at representatives from smaller communities who might not have been aware of the services available and do not have the capacity to deliver these programs themselves.

The conference was funded by our federal partners at the National Crime Prevention Center and the Aboriginal Justice Directorate at Public Safety Canada. Our own Community Justice and Policing Division also provided support.

The conference was timely, as many of our smaller communities will be visited this year by staff from Community Justice and Policing and the RCMP to help them refine their Policing Priority Action Plans. We recognize that by talking together we can all help make residents safer using local resources, as well as those available through the RCMP, Department of Justice and other organizations.

It is clear from the feedback we received that the conference was a tremendous success. It not only allowed community leaders to interact with front line workers, but it also encouraged collaboration, networking and partnership building amongst government departments and non-government agencies. Attendees told conference organizers that the chance to meet people from a range of communities and organizations and to exchange and discuss ideas about safety planning was a valuable experience.

Mr. Speaker, for the past four years, Members of this Assembly have been hearing about a change in the way we do business with communities to address their policing needs. I am pleased with the substantial progress we have made in focusing on safe communities with strong people who are able to be independent and healthy.

Today many communities are actively involved in discussions with the RCMP aimed at identifying local policing priorities. Some communities have also taken the next step to develop Policing Action Plans to better target resources. As we continue with this coordinated approach to community safety planning I am confident that it will continue to produce solutions that are effective because they reflect and support community needs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is focused on ensuring opportunities, education and training are available to all residents of the Northwest Territories. As our labour market needs expand, so do the opportunities. The GNWT Population Growth Strategy has a target to bring 2000 people to the territory in the next four years, and ECE is doing its part to contribute to that strategy through one of our most valuable resources – our students. The Department supports NWT postsecondary students to obtain the skills and education they need to contribute to a prosperous Northern economy.

Mr. Speaker, in support of the GNWT Population Growth Strategy, the Department will be making the following significant improvements to SFA for the 2015-16 academic year:
• Increasing loan remission rates, so students have their debt forgiven faster while residing in the NWT;
• Implementing a $2,000 Northern Bonus for both NWT and southern students who reside in the NWT to be applied to their student loan debt;
• Introducing a 0% interest rate for students who return to live in the NWT after completing their studies;
• Increasing funding for tuition and books; and,
• Removing the 20 semester funding limit and re-introducing a revolving loan limit, so students who pay down their loan can access additional funding.

I am also pleased to announce that we launched an SFA online application on June 1st. The online application will simplify the application process, increase online presence and make the SFA program more accessible to NWT residents.

Mr. Speaker, the SFA application forms have also changed so that students can easily give their consent for ECE to connect them with all NWT employers to facilitate employment opportunities. Connecting students and employers will help ensure that our students return to the NWT and help meet the needs of the labour market.

Furthering the GNWT Growth Strategy, we are not only engaging with our Northern students, but also encouraging Southern students to take advantage of the opportunities of living in the North.

Mr. Speaker, I have said before that our people are our territory’s greatest resource. Having more educated NWT residents entering the workforce will strengthen our economy and create opportunities across the territory for both Northerners and potential residents looking to make the North their home.

Masi, Mr. Speaker.