Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later on this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, I will table the building and learning strategy on behalf of the NWT Housing Corporation, the Departments of Public Works and Services and the Honourable Richard Nerysoo, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. This important initiative is a result of months of hard work and collaboration between the NWT Housing Corporation and the Departments of Public Works and Services, Education, Culture and Employment.
Every year, our government spends millions of dollars on capital projects. We build houses, schools, nursing stations, recreational facilities and other buildings that are needed in our communities. These capital projects have the potential to create much more benefit to the communities than just the buildings themselves. The jobs generated by construction work are needed by the people in the communities. Jobs are scarce in many communities, and employment is needed so people can be self-sufficient and provide a better quality of life for themselves and their families.
Jobs, training and business opportunities for the communities are what the building and learning strategy is all about. Government, communities and NWT construction industry will work together to create new jobs for northerners on government funded local construction projects. Through these efforts, we will build a trained, skilled, northern construction workforce, and strengthen our northern construction industry.
I would like to thank the Honourable Richard Nerysoo and all those who contributed to the development of this strategy. We will continue to work together to ensure that government-funded construction projects result not only in quality buildings, but also in stronger, more self-sufficient northern communities, citizens and businesses. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.