Bob McLeod

That certainly is the basis for the Sustainable Development Policy of the Government of the Northwest Territories. We’d be very pleased to work with the community as opportunities become real and as the results of the exploration are examined and confirmed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes that Northwest Territories filmmakers make positive economic and cultural impacts on our Territory. Today I would like to talk to you about the important work that we are doing with the Northwest Territories film industry to help grow this vital sector.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is working with Education, Culture and Employment to undertake a review assessing the economic prospects of the film industry, investigating establishment of an independent film commission and possible programs that...

The president and CEO, when he visited Paulatuk, his primary purpose was to lay out the groundwork for the hiring of local people as well as fine-tuning the logistical aspects of the project. We have set up mine training projects with other communities and we would be very pleased to approach the Mine Training Society and work with the community of Paulatuk. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Darnley Bay project is in the early exploration stages and the president and CEO, Mr. Stephen Reford, was in Paulatuk on February 1st and at that time he announced that there would be two drilling campaigns underway in 2011. We’re very excited about that.

As well, Diadem Resources Ltd., which is a 50 percent partner, also announced the results of their diamond drilling on the Franklin diamond project which is located on Parry Peninsula. The results are very encouraging. There are seven diamondiferous kimberlites discovered, including one microdiamond. So the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are quite pleased to be invited to participate in the official opening of the Ulukhaktok Arts Centre. It’s been about a 20-year hiatus since prints were produced in what is formerly Holman Island. The prints are world-class so we’ll certainly work very closely with the community arts centre to make sure that we can promote as many workshops as we can so that the artisans and printmakers can expand their skills and learn some new, modern techniques.

Mr. Speaker, today I’d like to highlight the progress this government has made toward reducing the cost of living in the Northwest Territories. Reducing the cost of living, and in particular energy costs, is a key priority of this government’s strategic plan.

On December 1, 2010, lower electricity rates were implemented in many of our Northwest Territories communities. The electricity rates in the thermal community zone are now approximately 40 cents per kilowatt hour for businesses and 47 cents per kilowatt hour for residents. These rates are far different from the previous rates that ranged...

Mr. Speaker, my understanding is there was discussion earlier. There is a committee in Norman Wells looking at all of these different options. We will provide our information, whatever information we have through Public Works. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee has been working largely with new energy initiatives. We have been dealing with the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline through normal government procedures, normal government responsibilities, and through the Joint Review Panel process we have been, as a government, disposing alternative energy proposals ranging from hydro to gasification of communities. We have undertaken a number of reports or commissioned a number of reports to identify those communities along the right-of-way that would or could be converted to utilization of...

In this 16th Assembly, this government, when we looked at one of our priorities of developing a diversified economy, what we decided early on was to promote development in every one of our 33 communities. Our focus was to get at least one development in every community. We are certainly trying to make sure that happens in every one of our 33 communities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize two Pages from Yellowknife South: Stephanie Thibault and Monique Chapman. Thank you.