David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do appreciate the fact that the leadership from the Sahtu was down in Yellowknife meeting with us, and I understand they were in Calgary as well. It is a pause in the activity in the Sahtu and with that pause we have to keep a positive frame of mind about how things are going to progress there. There are other opportunities, and I know the leadership in the Sahtu is aware of those other opportunities. Our government is committed to continuing to work with the leadership in the Sahtu to see those opportunities realized, and we will continue our best on moving forward...

We are now responsible for that work through the geoscience office here. We will continue to work to best determine how to go about collecting that type of information, cataloguing it and using it to our best advantage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly, the future looks very bright for the Sahtu, for the region. I do have plans to travel to Norman Wells and to Deline the middle of June, and I look forward to continuing the discussion that we had recently with the leadership from the Sahtu on how we can work together to advance opportunities that will benefit not only the region but the territory as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, tourism is the Northwest Territories’ largest renewable resource-based sector. Last year approximately 76,000 tourists visited the territory, one of the highest visitor numbers we have seen in the last decade.

Today I would like to tell you about ways we have and will be improving our territorial parks and the positive outlook for our tourism industry.

To ensure an enjoyable experience in our territorial parks, we invest heavily in parks facilities and infrastructure. There is a new kitchen shelter situated closer to the waterfront at Fred Henne beach that is available to rent. At...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, May 30, 2014, I will move that Bill 27, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2014, be read for the first time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two constituents with me today here in the House, Ms. Linda Wood and also Vivian Kelly. Welcome. Also, I’d like to welcome the UK Deputy High Commissioner in Ottawa, Ms. Corin Robertson and, as well, Mr. Rupert Potter based in Vancouver. He’s the Consul General with the British government in Vancouver. Welcome, folks, and enjoy the rest of your visit here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to welcome Mr. Darrell Beaulieu, the chair of the Business Development Investment Corporation. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s a great pleasure to welcome a friend of mine and a colleague from the Yukon government, the Honourable Mike Nixon. He’s the Minister of Justice and also the Minister of Tourism and Culture with the Yukon government. Accompanying Minister Nixon is Tom Ullyett. He’s the deputy minister of Justice with the Yukon government. Ms. Lesley McCullough, the assistant deputy minister; and also Mr. Dan Cable, the director of policy with the Department of Justice, Yukon government. Welcome and thanks for visiting the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Communities and Diamonds: 2013 Annual Report of the GNWT Under the BHP Billiton, Diavik and DeBeers Socio-economic Agreements.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is proud to support the NWT’s rich and varied NWT arts community through programs and initiatives delivered by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. It is estimated that 20 percent of our population is involved in some element of arts and crafts production.

It is through artistic expressions captured in film, books, music, painting, photography, performance, sculpture and crafts that our residents share their stories and the natural wonders of our territory with the...