Bob McLeod

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to build partnerships to support, among other things, culturally-based tourism. The tourism sector offers the potential for direct and indirect economic growth in many of our communities and the possibility for diversification and growth of regional economies. As we look to the future, we can be assured that our government’s strategic approach to tourism development is already working. In 2010, we introduced the Tourism 2015 Plan with an ambitious goal of building the NWT tourism sector to a $30...

Implementing the agreement-in-principle means that the parties will complete the negotiation of the final selfgovernment agreement and that all of the necessary arrangements and agreements that need to be in place before the effective date of the agreement are worked out and agreed to by all of the parties. The agreement-in-principle sets out the structure of the Inuvialuit Government, an exclusive Aboriginal selfgovernment that will serve and represent Inuvialuit citizens and deliver government programs and services to Inuvialuit in the Western Arctic region.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvialuit SelfGovernment Agreement-in-Principle was signed by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the federal government on July 22 2015 in Inuvik. With the signing of the Inuvialuit SelfGovernment Agreement-in-Principle, the parties are actively working towards the timely conclusion of a final Inuvialuit selfgovernment agreement.

Here in the Northwest Territories, we are very fortunate to have very strong Chambers of Commerce. We have the NWT Chamber of Commerce and we have at least five or six chambers throughout the Northwest Territories in every region. We have a very close relationship, and the NWT Chamber of Commerce shares our view of the red tape report, and because of the fact that we are a small jurisdiction, we can interact almost on a one-to-one basis with businesses, especially when we travel to the regions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the main barriers, as I see it, is the ability to develop business plans and the access to financial assistance and aftercare so that the biggest barrier to being a successful business is getting through the first year and surviving for five years, so any aftercare we can provide. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier this week, the successful conclusion of modern treaties and selfgovernment agreements can be seen as the ultimate expression of free prior and informed consent among partners. The Government of Canada's recent adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is an encouraging and tangible demonstration of the federal government's renewed commitment to Canada's Aboriginal people.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We set up a website to track it. It wasn't our intention to take over the responsibility to increase the number of women. Certainly, if we can't get nominations from the MLAs submitting women, certainly we can change the process whereby we will go out and find women to fill these positions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would ask you, through you, Richard Robertson, please.

The Government of the Northwest Territories works hard to bring awareness to the significant benefits that mineral exploration, mine operations and processing can bring to people. The Government of the Northwest Territories through our Department of Education, Culture and Employment is working with the mines to support them in meeting their northern hiring targets. This includes connecting the mines with students, promoting employment opportunities throughout the Northwest Territories by working with and supporting the mines as they undertake regional and community recruitment initiatives...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That would be the Government House Leader and myself. Thank you, Mr. Chair.