Statements in Debates
The Government of the Northwest Territories has worked with the Ontario government to share information as they establish their diamond industry. We participated in the workshops that were held in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. We participated primarily as observers. As I said earlier, we are reviewing our diamond policy. Certainly, the establishment of a diamond bourse would be looked at as part of that review.
The diamond bourse provides for the facilitated sale of rough and polished diamonds. This is something that our government looked at initially, when diamonds were first discovered. We determined at that time that we would get more value added by making sure that rough diamonds were made available for the secondary diamond industry. So we have proceeded on that basis. We are now reviewing our policy to see whether we should be looking at diamond bourses.
Ontario held these workshops in a number of locations across Canada. It was organized by a former resident of the Northwest Territories. The...
I’d like to recognize three pages from Yellowknife South — Edward Coad, Emily Thagard and Lucas Othmer — and thank them for the excellent service they provided over the past two weeks.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Draft NWT Hydro Strategy.
Document 103-16(2), Draft NWT Hydro Strategy, tabled.
Mr. Speaker, we do have the Community Harvesters’ Assistance Program, which can be used for deferring some of the costs of living off the land. I do know that the last time there were any changes to the program was at least three or four governments ago. So I will be quite prepared to review this area.
Mr. Speaker, our government is tasked with balancing our efforts to address immediate energy challenges with the responsibility for investing in longer term energy solutions. Since its release last year the NWT energy plan has been the framework that has guided our work and investment to meet these two key challenges.
At the appropriate time this afternoon, as the Chair of the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee, I will be tabling the draft NWT Hydro Strategy. This is the next step in our government’s comprehensive and strategic approach to energy planning.
Mr. Speaker, the growing impacts...
Mr. Speaker, I do know that in the past we have worked with the community of Tu Nedhe to develop a community development strategy. There are lots of resources around Tu Nedhe in areas such as wildlife, forestry and so on, so we’d be quite prepared to work with the community to develop such a strategy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories has recognized the importance of traditional harvesting activities for some time now, and we do have a number of programs in place. Over the course of the past ten years or so we also had the Western Harvesters’ Assistance Program, which is a $15 million matching program that is available to every aboriginal government organization in the Northwest Territories. We do also have the Harvesters’ Assistance Program, a total of $1.5 million, which includes funding for local wildlife committees, Community Harvesters’ Assistance...
Mr. Speaker, last year’s conference, for example, resulted in the formation of the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce for the Northwest Territories. This will facilitate a large part of business opportunities. The Mackenzie Aboriginal Corporation participated, made a lot of connections and did a lot of networking to make sure that other aboriginal businesses and regions were aware of their existence. We see the value of that. Certainly, with the networking and the business opportunities I think that will benefit not only the Northwest Territories but the rest of Canada.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d be pleased to send a copy of the agenda and the registration package to the Member, but for his information, both the Business Development and Investment Corporation and the department will be participating in the workshops and making presentations. As well, I believe the Premier and I will be making speeches at various times.