Northwest Territories News

YELLOWKNIFE (October 14, 2014) – The Mackenzie Valley Fiberoptic Link (MVFL) took another positive step today with the announcement by Finance Minister J. Michael Miltenberger that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the K’ahsho Got’ine District have signed an agreement to allow for the construction and operation of the project.

“The signing of the agreement today demonstrates the benefits of a strong working relationship between the GNWT and the K’ahsho Got’ine District (KGD),” said KGD Land Corporation President Edwin Erutse.

“With the majority of the installation occurring within the existing right-of-way, the significant link for the project was linking the section between Fort Good Hope and Inuvik,” said Minister Miltenberger. “Reaching an agreement with the K’ahsho Got’ine District is an important milestone in the development of the MVFL project, and demonstrates the K’ahsho Got’ine share in the vision of a prosperous NWT.”

In July 2014 the GNWT selected Northern Lights Fibre Limited Partnership (Northern Lights) as the preferred proponent to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the MVFL.  The GNWT and Northern Lights will continue to work closely with communities along the Mackenzie Valley to discuss project benefits and opportunities and with environmental regulatory authorities to ensure environmental requirements are met.

The GNWT planned in-service date for the MVFL of mid-2016 would see construction starting in early January 2015. The project anticipates applying to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board for permitting this month.

The MVFL will provide state of the art communication infrastructure through the Mackenzie Valley. It will provide new opportunities for businesses, including in the e-commerce and high-tech sectors, and will allow for the expansion of the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility, a leader in remote data sensing with international clients. The MVFL will also support more efficient and effective delivery of government services and programs such as telehealth and education to the communities it will connect.

For more information:

Edwin Erutse
President
K’ahsho Got’ine Lands Corporation
Tel: (867)598-2519

or

Sean Craig
Department of Finance
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 873-7124

YELLOWKNIFE (October 14, 2014) – Each year during National Fire Prevention Week Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs Robert C. McLeod recognizes members of the NWT Fire Service for their work in protecting our families and homes from the threat of fire by awarding the annual Fire Service Merit Awards.

“Firefighters and fire departments are an integral part of our community emergency response,” said Minister McLeod. “Recognizing those who selflessly protect our homes and families is important and these awards are one small way we can say thank you.”

NWT Fire Service Merit Awards are awarded based on nominations from community members and fire chiefs. They honour and recognize individuals and community fire departments for their significant contribution to fire safety and fire service across the territory.

The 2014 award recipients are:

• The Behchokö Volunteer Fire Department
• The Fort Smith Volunteer Fire Department
• Volunteer Firefighter Clarence Nasken of the Wekweètì Fire Department
• Volunteer Firefighter Norman Firth of the Fort McPherson Fire Department
• Volunteer Firefighter Vince McKay of the Hay River Fire Department

Recognizing the contributions and achievements of fire fighters is an important part of promoting and recognizing the NWT fire service and the vital education and protection services they provide in helping to make NWT communities sustainable, vibrant and safe, one of the goals of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

Media inquiries:             

David Maguire

Communications and Web Advisor
Municipal and Community Affairs
Phone: (867) 920-3092

YELLOWKNIFE (October 10, 2014) – Members of the Executive Councils of the Tłįchǫ Government and the 17th Legislative Assembly met this week as agreed to in Working Together – the Tłįchǫ Government/Government of the Northwest Territories Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding (Working Together).

Areas of discussion included:

• Shared interest in finding the resources to develop all-weather roads in the Tłįchǫ region.
• The Tłįchǫ Government shared a review of the economic impacts of the Tłįchǫ Agreement and its positive impact on the NWT GDP.
• How our governments can work together on the serious ecological, cultural and socio-economic problems of the Bathurst and Bluenose caribou population decline.
• The GNWT shared plans for a restructuring of the NWT Health and Social Services System.
• The importance of talking about family violence, as governments and in communities, and recognition of Family Violence Week.
• Shared interest in resolving housing concerns in the Tłįchǫ communities.

The Working Together agreement was also renewed for a 4 year term. This was the fourth meeting of the two governments since it was initially signed in June 2012. 

For more information:

Brenda Norris
Media Liaison
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-669-2302

Jim Martin
Sr. Policy Advisor, Priorities & Planning
Tłįchǫ Government
Tel: 867-766-4003

The attached news release is being redistributed on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada.

CJG-NR Kenney NWT_V04 QC

YELLOWKNIFE (October 9, 2014) – The Northwest Territories’ (NWT) most productive trappers for the 2013/14 season were formally announced today. Individual trappers in each of the NWT’s five regions are recognized annually in four categories: highest sales, most pelts, and the senior and junior trappers of the year.

The annual award program is a component of the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur (GMVF) Program, which is delivered by the Departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) and Environment and Natural Resources (ENR).

“NWT trappers are globally recognized for their commitment to excellence, from preparation to market,” said Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) David Ramsay. “Congratulations to the award recipients for their hard work and dedication to this fundamental part of the traditional economy.”

With the 2014/15 trapping season set to open, Minister Ramsay notes that one trapper will be missing from his trap line outside of Colville Lake.

“The late Mark Kochon was a highly respected and regarded trapper regionally and nationally,” said Minister Ramsay. “As one of our country’s most productive marten trappers, he consistently delivered the highest valued marten at auction year in and year out.”

ITI and ENR will be giving the family of the late Mr. Kochon an award in recognition of his excellence as a trapper.

Through the responsible development of natural resources in the NWT, the GNWT is working to create a prosperous, diverse and sustainable economy which will benefit all NWT residents in all communities and regions for years to come.

Backgrounder – Top Trappers 2014

Media inquiries:

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

YELLOWKNIFE (October 8, 2014) – Finance Minister J. Michael Miltenberger announced Budget Dialogue 2014: Taking Stock today. The Budget Dialogue will update the public on the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) fiscal outlook and hear from NWT residents on the GNWT’s financial management and fiscal strategy.

“This marks the last public budget dialogue for the 17th Legislative Assembly,” Minister Miltenberger noted. “These public discussions have helped shape earlier budgets, and we will use this year’s discussion to update residents on the on-going necessity for fiscal restraint and gather their views to help in the transition to the 18th Legislative Assembly.”

Residents across the NWT are invited to join in the discussion via public meetings, or by sending feedback in a letter or email to budgetdialogue@gov.nt.ca by December 15, 2014. Public meetings will be held in the following regional centres:

Fort Smith           Wed, Nov 12, Pelican Rapids Inn Blue Room

Behchokö            Thurs, Nov 13    Cultural Centre, Hall Area

Fort Simpson     Mon, Nov 17, Nahanni Inn Large Boardroom

Inuvik                    Tues, Nov 18, Mackenzie Hotel, Permafrost Room

Norman Wells   Wed, Nov 19, Heritage Hotel Boardroom

Yellowknife        Thurs, Nov 20, Explorer Hotel, Janvier Room

Hay River             Wed, Nov 26, Ptarmigan Inn, Louisa Alexandra Falls Room

All meetings will start at 7:30 p.m.

In 2012, NWT residents were asked for their views on spending priorities and for ways to make the GNWT more efficient. Last year’s budget dialogue focused on the GNWT’s approach to managing resource revenues, including how much resource revenue should be set aside for Heritage Fund contributions.

These public discussions continue this Assembly’s commitment to seek Northerners’ opinions on how this Government can achieve its vision of strong individuals, families and communities sharing the benefits and responsibilities of a prosperous, and environmentally sustainable, Northwest Territories.

Background material, contact information, and updated meeting schedules are available on the Department of Finance’s website.

Media inquiries:

Shaun Dean
Director, Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 669-2302
Email: shaun_dean@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (October 8, 2014) – Members of the Executive Councils of the Northwest Territory Métis Nation and the 17th Legislative Assembly met yesterday as agreed to in the Northwest Territory Métis Nation – GNWT Memorandum of Understanding.

Areas of discussion included:

•  human resources and economic development opportunities for Northwest Territory Métis communities and members, particularly as the result of devolution, related to housing development and power generation;
• the importance of talking about family violence as governments, and in communities, and recognition of Family Violence Week;
• concerns around the taxation of traditional use cabins;
• plans towards the upgrading of highways 5 and 6;
• the importance of early childhood education and ensuring children have a good start in pursuing lifelong education; and
• improving health and social services care through integration of health and social services delivery.

For more information:

Brenda Norris
Media Liaison
Office of the Premier/Cabinet
Government of the Northwest Territories
867-669-2302

Earl Jacobson
Executive Director
Northwest Territory Metis Nation
Cell: 867-621-0616
Phone: 867-872-2770
Email: execassist.nwtmn@northwestel.net

FORT SIMPSON (October 7, 2014) – New developments at the Prairie Creek Mine will increase employment opportunities and promote economic growth in the Dehcho Region.

Responding to today’s announcement by Canadian Zinc Corporation (CZN) regarding the start-up of the Prairie Creek underground program as it moves towards full production, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) David Ramsay says he is pleased with what the development of a producing mine will mean for the residents of the Dehcho Region.

“This is the first mining project for the Dehcho and I look forward to residents and businesses seeing the benefits of a producing mine in their region,” said Minister Ramsay. “Canadian Zinc is committed to maximizing Aboriginal and local employment and creating opportunities for northern businesses.”

A socio-economic agreement (SEA) was signed between CZN and the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) in 2011, which outlines commitments made by CZN for northern employment and procurement.

The GNWT believes that sustainable and environmentally responsible resource development projects will benefit NWT residents by strengthening and diversifying the economy as envisioned by the 17th Legislative Assembly and the Mineral Development Strategy.

Media inquiries:

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

YELLOWKNIFE (October 7, 2014) – Seven NWT students have been awarded Northern Aviation Scholarships of up to $5,000 to support their full-time studies leading to northern aviation careers.

This scholarship develops a northern workforce by encouraging northerners to pursue careers in aviation and is sponsored by the Governments of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Discovery Air, Keewatin Air and North-Wright Air.

“Increasing northern employment in the aviation industry benefits us all,” said Minister of Transportation Tom Beaulieu. “Northerners understand how a more efficient transportation system improves our standard of living by reducing the cost of moving people and freight throughout the territory.”

All of the recipients are pursuing full-time studies leading to a northern aviation career:

• Owen MacDonald from Fort Smith ($5,000)
• Oliver Hodgins from Yellowknife  ($5,000)
• Sean Pennington from Hay River ($5,000)
• Walker Redshaw from Yellowknife (one semester: $2,500)
• Joshua Rose from Norman Wells ($5,000)
• Kylar Villebrun from Yellowknife ($5,000)
• Alexander White from Inuvik ($5,000)

This program provides training opportunities for people in all regions, encouraging people to enter the aviation industry and strengthening local economies,” said Minister Beaulieu. “Airports make remote areas more accessible, fuelling sustainable development and economic growth. They are a lifeline for everything from critical supplies to medevacs, and safe and efficient airports come from partnerships like those supporting this scholarship.”

The Northern Aviation Scholarship supports the priorities of the 17th Assembly to increase employment opportunities for residents and to encourage people to enter the workforce with the skills and training they require to meet northern employment opportunities.

A separate announcement from the Government of Nunavut will name Nunavummiut recipients.

Media inquiries:

Brenda Norris
Media Liaison
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 669-2302
Email: brenda_norris@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (October 6, 2014) – NWT residents are being invited to check their homes to ensure adequate fire safety measures are in place by filling out a simple questionnaire during National Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11. Residents with children in grades 7 and under who participate by filling out a Home Fire Safety Checklist will be entered in a prize draw.

“Fire Prevention Week is a great time for everyone to consider how they are prepared for a fire,” said Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs Robert C. McLeod. “Ensuring your home is fire safe is an important way everyone can protect their loved ones and property.”

To recognize National Fire Prevention Week, residents are being asked to visit www.maca.gov.nt.ca or ask their local fire department for a Home Fire Safety Checklist. These checklists will help homeowners evaluate their current smoke detectors and find any areas where they need to improve their preparedness.

Residents with children in Grades 7 and under are encouraged to fill out the checklist as a family, which will help start an important discussion about fire safety in the home. Completed checklists will be entered to win one of five home fire safety prize kits that include a combo smoke/carbon monoxide alarm, a fire escape ladder, and an Apple iPad with instructions on using it as a tool to educate youth on fire safety in the home. One prize will be awarded in each region of the NWT.

Ensuring northerners are educated and equipped for emergency situations is an important part of creating sustainable, vibrant and safe communities as outlined in the 17th Assembly’s vision of Believing in People and Building on the Strengths of Northerners.

Media inquiries:

David Maguire
Communications and Website Advisor
Municipal and Community Affairs
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 920-3092
Email: david_maguire@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (October 6, 2014) – Premier Bob McLeod, as Minister Responsible for Women, will launch Family Violence Awareness Week today at a ceremony at the Salvation Army in Yellowknife. The theme of this year’s Family Violence Awareness Week is “Family violence is everyone’s business. What will you do?”

“We all have a role in preventing and responding to abuse in our communities,” said Premier McLeod as he commemorated October 5-11, 2014 as Family Violence Awareness Week in the Northwest Territories (NWT).  “It is difficult to talk about family violence but if we remain silent, we are condoning that violence and allowing it to continue.”

Family violence is a serious problem that affects all Northerners. Rates of reported family violence in the NWT are four times the national average. It affects all communities and creates health, social and economic problems for families.

Women in the NWT often rely on informal sources of support to cope with violence. Regardless of the type of abuse, female victims in the territories most often turn to family members, friends or neighbours for support or guidance according to a 2013 Statistics Canada survey.

Premier McLeod said, “People who use violence in their relationships, whether it is physical or emotional abuse are making a choice to behave that way. Blaming the victim, blaming alcohol or other factors for family violence prevents abusers from taking responsibility for their own actions and from getting help.”

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) offers several options for people wanting to address their violent behaviours, including the NWT Help Line, community counseling programs and a men’s healing program.  The GNWT also works in close partnership with the Coalition Against Family Violence (CAFV).  The CAFV is a territorial interagency group that brings together non-government and government agencies to share information and undertake projects that work to reduce the incidence of family violence in the NWT.

For more information on Family Violence Awareness Week, contact the Status of Women Council of the NWT at 1-888-234-4485.

Media inquiries:

Brenda Norris
Media Liaison
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-669-2302
Email: brenda_norris@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (October 6, 2014):  Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty met with Northwest Territories Aboriginal leaders last week to talk about the future of our youth, school readiness and wellness, and how children’s education will determine their success.  Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy joined the meeting in the afternoon to present the results of a recent assessment of children who entered school in the fall of 2014.

Among the issues discussed were the results of the Early Development Instrument tests, reporting on the wellness of 5-year olds.  This is the third year this information has been collected by kindergarten teachers.  The trends clearly demonstrate that many children in NWT communities are disadvantaged when it comes to school readiness and overall development, particularly children in small communities.  Leaders discussed this troubling information and put forward some suggestions on how to share this information in communities, and how governments can work together to help and support very young children as they grow.  Leaders also talked about the role of the family and the community and how they contribute to the wellness of the child.

“The wellness and development of our children is of great concern to us all,” said Minister Lafferty.  “I agree with all the Aboriginal leaders when they say that this is an issue we cannot ignore.  We must draw on the wisdom and experience of our Elders and the data that this research is providing us.  We must draw on the advice of experts, but the real solutions will come from Northerners working together.”

“What happens during a child’s early years affects them for the rest of their life, and the first five years are the most important,” said Minister Abernethy. “To succeed at improving the healthy development of all NWT children, we need to change the way we do business and improve our ability to reach families at risk. Our early assessment tools, combined with key learnings from Elders, will guide our path and shape our vision of healthy, educated people contributing to a strong and prosperous Northern society.”

Media inquiries:

Brenda Norris
Media Liaison
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 669-2302
Email: brenda_norris@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (October 2, 2014) – Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy joined his federal, provincial and territorial colleagues in Banff earlier this week to discuss innovative practices in health.

Ministers discussed a range of health innovations including a new office for the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, generic drug pricing, research on dementia, seniors and aging, prescription drug abuse and the ebola outbreak in Africa.

“We had great discussions with the Federal Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovations,” said Minister Abernethy. “I extended an invitation for the panel to come to the NWT and see our system and innovations at work.”

Minister Abernethy raised the importance of electronic health records for residents of the NWT.  “We recently rolled out our Electronic Medical Record in our Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority, thanks to continued support from Canada’s Health Infoway (CHI),” said the Minister. “We would not be where we are without CHI and we look forward to future investment to help us advance NWT informatics projects in years to come. I hope that the Federal government will be able to renew the funding to the CHI for this important work.”

During the meetings, Minister Abernethy was able to attend the Canadian Blood Service annual general meeting and explore options for NWT residents to contribute to the Canadian blood supply.

“This was a great opportunity to meet Alberta’s new Minister of Health, Stephen Mandel, and Federal Minister Ambrose. I look forward to building on learnings from this meeting and implementing them in the NWT,” added Minister Abernethy.

Media inquiries:
Brenda Norris
Media Liaison
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-669-2302
Email: brenda_norris@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (October 2, 2014) – The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is increasing the price it pays for seal skins under its Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs (GMVF) Hide Procurement Program.

Beginning next season, the price paid to NWT harvesters per seal skin will climb from $55 to $70.

“We have a large number of talented artists in the NWT and through them there is significant demand for seal skins,” said Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) Minister David Ramsay. “The increase in the price paid to NWT harvesters is an effort to stimulate supply.”

Seal skins are used in the production of unique northern arts and crafts. When the market for sealskins was eliminated in 2009, so was the supply of sealskins for NWT artists. The Hide Procurement Program was established to offset the ban imposed on seal skin imports by the European Union and protect the NWT’s traditional economy, especially in Beaufort communities.

The GMVF program, which is delivered by ITI and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, provides a guaranteed advance to harvesters for NWT seal skins. These skins are sent south to be tanned and dyed. Once processed, they are sold to NWT artists on a cost-neutral basis.

The increased price paid per skin comes in response to recommendations in the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy to increase investments in the GMVF Program and expand the provision of raw materials for arts and crafts.

Media inquiries:

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

YELLOWKNIFE (October 2, 2014) – Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty spoke to delegates at the Northwest Territories’ Teachers’ Association conference this week about the importance of renewing the approach to education in the Northwest Territories to ensure student achievement is improved and teachers are supported to do their jobs.

Minister Lafferty spoke about the importance of all people in the education system working together to improve outcomes for students.  He also addressed the need for teachers to have a safe and appropriate working environment.  The Minister talked about the work around the 10-year Education Renewal initiative, to which many of the assembled delegates contributed.

Some key components of Education Renewal centre around the school-community relationship and both student and teacher wellness in order to get to improved student achievement.  Minister Lafferty stressed to delegates how critical it is to ensure that teachers have the work conditions needed for teaching excellence.  He also said it is time for a new approach to education delivery where we have the courage to re-imagine the very structures of our system and to better reflect our northern students, families and teaching force.

“When I say teacher wellness I want you to understand that I know you are required to be all things to all people,” said Minister Lafferty.  “Not only do you teach the children; you are often nurse, counselor and coach.  You feed them and nurture them. So when I say we are going to do things differently, one of the things I mean is that we are going to clear some space for you to do your actual job – teaching.  Many of the issues that compel you to fill other voids are the responsibility of others.  Part of our new way of thinking is to work with other departments and agencies to enable them to fulfill their roles so that you can better fulfill yours, in a supported way.”

The Minister urged teachers to become part of the future they want and to stay focused.  He said that embracing new thinking does not mean doing more, but doing things differently.

The Northwest Territories’ Teachers’ Association conference wraps up on Wednesday, October 1.  It is an opportunity for teachers to learn about new practices and network with each other.  The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is a sponsor of the conference.

Media Inquiries:

Jacqueline McKinnon
Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
Department of Education, Culture and Employment
Tel: (867) 920-6222
Email: jacqueline_mckinnon@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (October 2, 2014) – Talent of Northwest Territories (NWT) filmmakers, actors and producers will be on the big screen this week at the 8th annual Yellowknife International Film Festival, held from October 1-5.

This year’s event, hosted by Western Arctic Moving Pictures (WAMP) at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC), includes film screenings, artist talks, workshops, an awards presentation and a gala reception.

“In addition to promoting the NWT as a beautiful location to film, the Yellowknife International Film Festival also showcases our local talent to the world,” said Minister of Industry, Investment and Tourism (ITI) David Ramsay. “This event continues to evolve and I want to congratulate everyone involved this year and wish WAMP all the best for a successful festival.” 

ITI’s Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Policy provides annual support to filmmakers for film development, marketing and promotion, and sponsorship.

Recommendations for supporting the NWT film industry contained in the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy include the development and implementation of a NWT film strategy, which is in the works. Through its support for entrepreneurs, the Government of the Northwest Territories is working to create a diversified economy that provides opportunities in all communities, a goal of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

Minister Ramsay will be addressing the film community at the gala reception on Friday, October 3. A complete schedule of film festival events can be found at: www.ykfilmfest.com

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

YELLOWKNIFE (October 2, 2014) – Minister Tom Beaulieu met with federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Transportation and Highway Safety this week to discuss ways to connect rural, northern and remote communities.

“I noted that the lack of northern infrastructure is a particular challenge and identified the Mackenzie Valley Highway as vital to support growth in the NWT,” said Minister Beaulieu. “Our goal includes completing the highway to connect communities, reduce the cost of living, and promote investment in the NWT.  We have already begun construction on the northern-most section from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk, and we have invested millions of dollars in permanent bridges and grade improvements along the winter route.  Investments in strategic infrastructure, such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway from Wrigley to Norman Wells, support the strategic vision agreed to by the Council of Ministers in 2013.”

Ministers also approved regulatory changes to better harmonize regulations for commercial carriers and made updates to the National Safety Code. These measures support the safe and efficient movement of cargo to and from the Northwest Territories.

“Northern entrepreneurs need certainty and flexibility for shipping their cargo to suppliers and customers,” said Minister Beaulieu. “Safe, secure, and reliable transportation services support our economy and make our communities more sustainable.”

Minister Beaulieu also participated in events to mark the 100th anniversary of the Transportation Association of Canada, which included a Northwest Territories showcase display sharing northern innovation in developing infrastructure such as the Deh Cho Bridge and the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway as well as highlighting economic development and employment opportunities in the NWT.

Media inquiries:
Brenda Norris
Media Liaison
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 669-2302
Email: brenda_norris@gov.nt.ca

YELLOWKNIFE (October 2, 2014) – The renewal of the Stanton Territorial Hospital moved closer today with the announcement by Finance Minister J. Michael Miltenberger that three proponents have qualified for the project, pursuant to the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) Request for Qualifications.

The three proponents are:

• Boreal Health Partnership
• EllisDon Corporation
• Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd.

These proponents have been invited to participate in the next stage of the competitive selection process, the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage. 

“Stanton has been in service since 1988 and is aging and due for a major renewal,” said Minister Miltenberger.  “Due to the complexity of the project, the GNWT is leveraging the experience gained thorough Public Private Partnerships (P3), which have become the preferred method of procurement for major health care infrastructure projects in Canada, to design, build, finance and maintain Stanton.”

The current schedule would see the Request for Proposals issued in October 2014, a preferred proponent selected by July 2015, a contract finalized by the end of August 2015 and commencement of the five-year construction period in September 2015.

One of the major benefits of P3s is that the private partner assumes the upfront costs and risks of the project, while ownership remains with public partner.

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

(Check against delivery)

Thank you.  As Premier of the Northwest Territories and as someone born and raised in the North, I am pleased to be here today to present a Northern perspective on Canada’s term as Chair of the Arctic Council.

On September 9th of this year the governments of Canada and Nunavut announced that they had found the final resting place of one of the ships of the ill-fated Franklin expedition.  Lost 168 years ago, the fate of Sir John Franklin and his men has been a mystery which has captured imaginations around the world ever since.

I open with this fact because I think the story of Sir John Franklin and the many narratives that have collected around it over the years, point to a number of themes that are useful for our discussion today.

The first point I would like to make 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. 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.

While interest in the Arctic is nothing new, what is new is some of the countries that are starting to look towards us.  More and more, countries with no previously articulated interest in the Arctic are starting to pay attention to what is going on in the North.  The list of observer nations at the Arctic Council continues to grow. Even transnational organizations 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, 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.

That raises the stakes for bodies like the Arctic Council and demands new levels of cooperation and leadership, leadership like the kind Canada has demonstrated during its term as Chair of the Council.

The second point I want to make in connection with the Franklin expedition is that there has always been a profound economic interest in the Arctic. Franklin, and many explorers before and after him, were motivated by the search for the Northwest Passage, a shorter and quicker route from Europe to the resources and markets of Asia.

While the transportation potential of the Arctic Ocean was being explored, so was the resource and economic potential of the region.  Again, this dates back centuries; Martin Frobisher was so convinced he had found gold on Baffin Island that he made a second voyage and recovered 200 tons of ore that he took back to England.

While there was not gold on Baffin Island, there is gold – and other minerals – in the Arctic, but it required modern technology and transportation to make mining it economical. That did not mean there was not money to be made in the North, however. Whaling and fishing off Northern shores have figured as major economic activities.

Any story about Canada has to consider the fur trade, much of it centred around the North.  From our earliest days, fur has made our country an integral part of the global economy.  European traders and explorers lived and traded with our First Nations, creating relationships between our peoples that continue to this day.

While the basis for trade and economic activity in the north has shifted away from the sectors that first brought Europeans to Northern shores, there is still substantial economic potential in our region.

Canada has been the envy of the industrialized world for several years for its relative economic performance.  What has been the basis – the foundation – of that strength?  Natural resources.  In particular, energy and minerals, and much of it in the North.

Royalties from mining and oil and gas extraction are paying for daycares, hospitals and schools in the South.  They are maintaining employment and generating prosperity across Canada, as an increasingly mobile labour force finds opportunities – and well-paying jobs – in Northern communities.

Never before do I recall such a time of potential and future prosperity facing the people of our territory.

We have, in the North, what the world wants – what emerging markets need.

To speak of just the Northwest Territories alone, 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 right there in the Northwest Territories, and a fourth one about to be constructed. Our product is recognized as being of the highest quality, and conflict-free.

We have gold.  We have silver.  We have bismuth.  Rare earth metals.  Cobalt.  Lead.  Zinc.  The vast majority of our mineral reserves are not even being mined.  There is so much potential.

Energy – we are blessed with an abundance that far exceeds our needs and even capacity to extract on our own.  Our territory is also sitting atop 81.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, with significant plays in all regions.

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.

As I consider the opportunities and strengths around us, I cannot but conclude that the Twenty-First Century belongs to the North!

I am also convinced that we will see – in our lifetime – regular shipping through Arctic waters that had previously remained too seasonal or ice-locked for predictable navigation.  Climactic changes around us are obviously presenting challenges and we are sensitive to that. We have great respect for our land and environment in the North and are committed to their protection.  But we are also committed to the economic development of our territory and the social development this will bring.  New transportation routes will create new economic opportunities that we will learn to use to our benefit, responsibly and sustainably.

The challenges we face in turning this potential into real prosperity for the people of the Arctic while continuing to conserve our environment is one that all Arctic nations face.  Bodies like the Arctic Council provide an important forum for addressing those similar, and sometimes shared, challenges, and I expect it will continue to play an important role in years to come.

The third and final point I would like to make in connection with the Sir John Franklin story is that the voices of the people who call the Arctic home matter.

The success of the Canadian search for the final resting place of Franklin’s ship was due in no small part to information preserved in the Inuit oral tradition.

Searches for the Franklin expedition began almost as soon as it became clear that it had been lost, the first one coming in 1848. A Canadian team, armed with knowledge handed down by generations of Inuit was finally successful in locating the remains of one ship in an area that oral tradition had identified.

The role of Inuit testimony in the successful search for Franklin’s ship is a useful reminder that the Arctic is more than a remote and mostly empty region, mostly noted for its unique environmental and ecological values.  The Arctic is also home to more than four million people living in the eight countries that make up the Council.

While my government is a staunch defender of the need to protect and conserve the environment and respectfully use and manage wildlife, we must not forget the human element.

Humans have been and continue to be part of the fabric of the Arctic world and the Arctic story. Indigenous people have made the Arctic their home for generations. They have lived close to the land, depending on it for their material, social and spiritual wellbeing. They know the Arctic, and they know what it takes to live there.

This is a reality that must be recognized by all states and organizations with an interest in the Arctic.  Any decisions about the Arctic must recognize this human dimension and must take into account the interests and the wishes of the people who call the Arctic home.

For the people of the North, it is a fundamental matter of respect.  The North is our home and our heritage, we must have a leading voice in decision making and we must benefit from the activities that take place there.  We are not content to simply sit on the sidelines while national and multinational interests play out around us.

Recognizing and respecting this human dimension has been a priority of Prime Minister Harper and his government’s northern strategy for many years and my government has always appreciated his interest in and support for the North and the people who live there.

Canada’s support for the North has translated into domestic initiatives aimed at creating a region where self-reliant individuals are able to live in healthy, vital communities, manage their own affairs and shape their own destinies.

It is this same focus on the people of the Arctic, on listening to their interests and supporting their aspirations, that has been perhaps the most significant feature of Canada’s term as Chair of the Arctic Council.

The Prime Minister sent a strong, positive signal that Canada was serious about giving Northerners a voice on the international stage when he named Minister Leona Aglukkaq as his choice for Chair of the Arctic Council. In making that appointment, Prime Minister Harper made Canada the first nation to name an indigenous Northerner to the Chairmanship.

Minister Aglukkaq is an Inuk who was born in and still lives in the Arctic. She knows and understands both the challenges and opportunities the Arctic and its people face in a real and practical way.

I cannot stress enough how important this is.  Her interest is not theoretical or abstract, it is concrete and direct.  It is based on her own experience as a Northerner and grounded in the history and traditions of her people, who have called the Arctic their home for generations.

Nobody knows better than Northern leaders the challenges our people face today. We want to see our people thrive and succeed, to participate in and benefit from the economic development opportunities that abound in our region. At the same time, we want to preserve and protect the culture and traditions that have nurtured our people for generations and been a critical source of personal and collective identity, and that includes protecting and conserving the land, water and wildlife that our people have depended on for centuries.

Striking that balance between past and future, traditional ways and modern opportunities, is a challenge that Northern leaders like myself, Minister Aglukkaq and Premier Taptuna face every day. That brings a different kind of focus and discipline to our thinking, one that puts the people of the North first.

It is a perspective that can, and should, inform the Arctic Council and which helps to provide balance to the many other competing interests expressed there.

When Minister Aglukkaq first took on her role as Chair of the Arctic Council, she noted that the Council was formed by Northerners, for Northerners, long before the region was of interest to the rest of the world. The world is different now, and as international interest in the Arctic grows, it is imperative that that focus on Northerners is preserved, that our voices and our interests are heard above the clamour.

That is why my government welcomes and supports Canada’s theme for its Chairmanship of the Arctic Council: development for the people of the North, with a focus on responsible Arctic resource development, safe Arctic shipping and sustainable circumpolar communities. As Northerners, we very much appreciate the fact that Canada has placed the well-being and prosperity of people living in the North at the forefront of the Arctic Council’s priorities. We have also been pleased that Canada has made it a priority to engage with the three territorial governments of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut to help inform its Arctic Council program.

One of Canada’s Arctic Council initiatives that the Government of the Northwest Territories was pleased to support and participate in was promoting traditional ways of life.

Traditional activities are both a source of income and a way of life for the Aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories. About 40 percent of Northwest Territories residents over the age of 15 continue to spend some time participating in traditional harvesting like trapping, fishing or hunting. Northern artisans and craftspeople still practice traditional arts like creating moose hair tufting, carving and creating birch bark baskets.

Traditional activities are part of what makes our people who they are and it is important that we support and preserve it. The transfer of these skills ensures that this history and these values are sustained, and important social and cultural links are maintained and contributes to ongoing self-sufficiency.

Through this initiative to promote traditional ways of life, Canada, Finland and the Gwich’in International Council have been co-leading the creation of a compendium of best practices. These will highlight unique, successful approaches taken by Arctic States, Permanent Participants, accredited Observers, Northern communities and regions in promoting traditional ways of life.  Best practices may range from community level to international in scope and a communication strategy will be developed to ensure the compendium is shared.

Our government was pleased to contribute two pieces to the compendium, our Traditional Knowledge Policy and our Take a Kid Trapping/Harvesting program.

The Traditional Knowledge Policy formally recognizes that the Aboriginal peoples of the Northwest Territories have acquired a vast store of traditional knowledge through their experience of centuries of living in close harmony with the land. Our government recognizes that Aboriginal knowledge is a valid and essential source of information about the natural environment and its resources, the use of natural resources and the relationship of people to the land and to each other.

It has been instrumental in ensuring government programs and policies are suitable and appropriate to the people they serve and continue to support Aboriginal identity and Aboriginal ways of life.

The Take a Kid Trapping Programis designed to introduce youth in the Northwest Territories to the traditional harvesting practices of hunting, trapping, fishing and outdoor survival. The Program was developed in 2002 out of concern that the average age of a trapper/harvester was 60; it was believed that the survival of traditional harvesting practices would be threatened if more youth were not encouraged to participate.

Take a Kid Trapping is now complemented by a sister harvesting program that focuses on passing on traditional agricultural practices.

The other initiative that our government was particularly pleased to see Canada promoting as part of its Arctic Council program was the creation of the Arctic Economic Council. For us, human development and economic development go hand in hand. We need a strong and diversified economy in the North that gives our people the means to support themselves and their families and contributes the revenues government needs to provide programs and services across the territory. People need an opportunity to succeed and a thriving economy will give them that opportunity.

For years, though, the North has faced serious challenges in realizing its full economic potential. Some of that is due to our small populations. We lack the economies of scale that support development in other regions, we have to few people to supply the human resources needed for major projects and we lack the capital needed to support development on any significant scale.

At the same time, we are challenged by the geographical size and remoteness of our region and our harsher climate. Unlike southern jurisdictions, the North lacks the access and infrastructure that are critical to economic development. Although there is demand for Northern resources, we lack the roads, ports and shipping routes that we need to get our products to market.

It is our Northern irony that, in spite of the rich mineral and energy wealth of the region, we still face huge challenges.  Our resources are going undeveloped and our people are still faced with unemployment, poverty, housing and infrastructure challenges and high cost of living.

We need to create opportunities for our people to succeed and creating a strong, stable and diversified economy is one of the ways we will do that. Economic development and social development go hand-in-hand. We must develop our economy if we are to develop socially and give our people the opportunity to achieve their aspirations and potential. That will mean development of our natural resources, but it does not mean development at any cost.

Development of our resources has the potential to improve the lives of our residents, but it must be managed properly. Development must be sustainable. It must be consistent with our Northern priorities and values. And development must be managed by Northerners for Northerners.

The new Arctic Economic Council will meet the dual needs of promoting responsible, sustainable development in the North and ensuring that Northern needs and interests are fully represented.

The Arctic Economic Council will help facilitate business opportunities, trade and investment by allowing governments, businesses and stakeholders to share their experience and knowledge in the best interests of Northerners.  Businesses already successfully operating in the Arctic will be able to share best practices and technological solutions through the business-to-business network established by the Arctic Economic Council.

The Arctic Economic Council also reflects a basic principle which I have spoken about many times before, partnership is an essential part of doing business in the North.  As a small and isolated region, Northerners learned long ago the value of relying on each other and working together to achieve common goals and interests.

Sustainable, responsible development of Northern resources could create untold wealth not just for Northerners, but for many countries and businesses.  Northern energy resources could help to fuel economic development around the globe, contributing to a new era of shared prosperity.

I believe that the Arctic Economic Council will be a critical vehicle for creating the kind of productive partnerships that we need to help the North realize its full potential while ensuring that Northern interests and perspectives are respected.

The arrival of Europeans in the Arctic almost 450 years ago led to the growth of trade and exploration and created the first international relationships between the people of what is now Canada and the rest of the world.

As a result of globalization, there is now more than ever increased attention, trade, exploration and migration into the Arctic, all with the potential to positively and negatively affect traditional Aboriginal ways of life.

But in this time of accelerated social, economic and cultural change, the Aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories and the circumpolar world continue to demonstrate resilience and an ability to adapt.

We must continue to support the ongoing development of the North, while preserving and protecting the traditions that have supported us for generations.  We must continue to focus on the human dimension of the Arctic, even as we continue to devote ourselves to protecting the unique environment and ecosystem of the region and developing its resources responsibly and sustainably.

I am confident that Minister Aglukkaq will continue to demonstrate vision and leadership in the remaining months of her term and look forward to further successes from her.

I also look forward to the coming Chairmanship of the United States, and call on it to continue the good work done by Canada in putting the interests of the people who live in the Arctic at the forefront of its program for the Arctic Council.

Thank you.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 29, 2014) – Initial planning is underway for Tourism 2020, a new plan to guide Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) activities and investments into tourism over the next five years. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) is seeking industry feedback for the new plan, which will build on investments made over the last five years under Tourism 2015.

“The tourism industry faces different challenges and opportunities today than it did when we created Tourism 2015 five years ago,” said Minister of ITI David Ramsay. “Getting input from the industry on what has changed is especially important. With the help of the input we are seeking, we can be confident that Tourism 2020 will identify actions and goals to strengthen the industry, grow visitor numbers and increase visitor spending in all regions of the NWT.”

Individuals are invited to share their feedback through an online survey, by contacting their Regional Tourism Officers, or during upcoming regional meetings.

Meetings are scheduled for:

• Inuvik – September 30, 2014
• Yellowknife – October 7, 2014
• Fort Simpson – October 21, 2014
• Fort Smith – October 28, 2014
• Hay River – October 29, 2014
• Norman Wells – November 4, 2014
• French teleconference – November 13, 2014

All Tourism 2020 information, including meeting times, locations, dial-in information and key contacts, is available at: Tourism 2020.

Developed to meet the 17th Assembly’s priority to strengthen and diversify the NWT economy, the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy, supports tourism investment as a means to provide direct and indirect economic opportunity in every region and community of the NWT.

Media inquiries: 

Leslie Campbell
Senior Communications Officer
Industry, Tourism and Investment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 920-3343

Email: leslie_campbell@gov.nt.ca