Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Infrastructure play an important role in delivering our mandate to advance economic growth in the Northwest Territories and reduce the cost of living for our people. Natural resources are the foundation of our economy. In the first two years of our mandate, we have invested approximately $3.4 million under the Mineral Development Strategy to support ongoing geoscience, marketing, Aboriginal capacity building, and the Mining Incentive Program. Our NWT Geological Survey continues to enhance publicly available geoscience, some of which has contributed to the most staking we have seen in years. Mr. Chair, we have completed community engagement sessions of our territory's first Mineral Resources Act and we are on track to ensure the unique needs of our territory are reflected in the legislation before this Legislative Assembly dissolves.
Mr. Chair, we have also made significant progress on an important priority of all MLAs: economic diversification. By supporting entrepreneurs, businesses, and business associations across the NWT with improved programs and services, as well as generous grants and contributions, we are growing areas of our economy to create better opportunities for residents to succeed. We committed to improving our tourism and parks facilities, Mr. Chair. We invested nearly $7 million to grow the capacity within the sector. Our investments have been reflected in the best-ever year for the NWT tourism sector, now worth more than $200 million to our economy. Mr. Chair, we released an Agriculture Strategy in March to encourage local food production and commercial capacity. It gives us the foundation to guide the expansion and growth of the business of food in our territory and over time will help address the cost of living, improve food security, foster healthy families, and enhance capacity-building programs for our youth.
We have also introduced a strategy to revitalize the Great Slave Lake commercial fishery, backing our commitments with funding to build a new fish processing plant in Hay River and plans for a collection point in Yellowknife. We have committed to growing a profile of NWT art at home and abroad. Our revamped NWT Arts website is delivering on this commitment by connecting the world to the NWT-made art.
Mr. Chair, with my Infrastructure portfolio, we have achieved progress on our mandate in the first half of this government that will benefit residents across the Northwest Territories. All Members agree that we need to address the cost of living and we have made strides in reducing energy costs and transitioning the territory to alternative energy production. Mr. Chair, we committed to a comprehensive public engagement on energy and climate change. That informed the development of the draft Energy Strategy. It sets out the long-term vision for energy security in the territory. We have supported alternative energy projects in communities here and now, with two solar installations completed in Inuvik as well as one in Aklavik. Biomass systems were installed in several GNWT facilities and a combined heat and power pilot project is under way in Fort Simpson. A feasibility study looking at building liquefied natural gas storage for power generation in Tuktoyaktuk was completed. Mr. Chair, access to secure, affordable, environmentally sustainable sources of energy is essential to the prosperity of the Northwest Territories and we've continued to work to find markets for the Taltson Hydro Expansion.
We have also made significant process in expanding the transportation system. Construction of the Canyon Creek all-season access road has commenced, creating employment for Sahtu residents while providing access to traditional lands for recreation, tourism, and business development. Mr. Chair, conditional approval of the Tlicho All-Season Road has also been received. The project will provide all-weather access to Whati, while improving winter access to Gameti and Wekweeti. Most recently, expressions of interest for the Slave Geological Province Corridor and the Mackenzie Valley Highway were submitted under the National Trade Corridors Fund. These transformative projects will help create jobs and business opportunities, while increasing access to our territory's extraordinary natural resource potential.
Mr. Chair, I believe in working together. Of the 38 commitments I am responsible for, seven commitments were completed, while the remaining 31 are at varying levels of progress. Mr. Chair, this work would not be possible without the support of Regular Members and their respective standing committees. Our success is not measured on one individual, but on the collective efforts of both sides of this House and the commitment of dedication of public servants to improve the lives of residents and ensure they have the ability to find success in their lives. Thank you, Mr. Chair.