Mahsi, Mr.
Speaker. I
would like to take this opportunity today, as the lead minister, to provide an update on the activities that are being undertaken and planned under the Maximizing Opportunities Strategic Initiative.
Maximizing Opportunities is one of the five initiatives that form the backbone of our government’s strategic approach and which are the basis of the investments announced in the recent budget. These five strategic initiatives have their foundation in the vision, goals and priorities developed by all Members.
The actions associated with Maximizing Opportunities advance the goal of a diversified economy that provides all communities and regions with opportunities and choices and supports other goals of the Assembly.
The NWT is rich in both resources and economic opportunities. The activities under this initiative are all aimed at positioning NWT residents to take advantage of these opportunities. Four broad actions are planned under Maximizing Opportunities:
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Improving Skills for Living and Working
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Maximizing Benefits from Resource Development
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Supporting
Diversification
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Promoting the NWT as a Place to Visit and Live
First, many NWT residents are not achieving the skills they need to enter and advance in the labour market or take advantage of existing and emerging opportunities. To address this fact, Improving Skills for Living and Working aims to build the skills we need in the Northwest Territories, especially trades and entrepreneurial skills.
We have proposed over $4.4 million in investments starting in 2008–2009, including funding and supports for trades in high schools; additional support for trades and apprentices through marketing and promotion of trades, including efforts targeted at women and aboriginal people, as well as ongoing support throughout apprenticeship and occupational certification programs; and enhanced mobile trades training that will expand trades training to include Aurora Campus in Inuvik and outlying communities.
Second, Maximizing Benefits from Resource Development will include facilitating the GNWT’s participation in preparing for the construction of the Mackenzie Gas Project. Specifically, the GNWT will make the necessary investments to complete our participation in the National Energy Board review, to begin implementation of our arrangements with the project proponents and fulfill our responsibilities in the regulatory phase of the project.
The Mackenzie Gas Project represents an important opportunity for our territory to advance towards the vision of a balanced, diversified and sustainable economy. The project holds the promise of significant ongoing investments in the oil and gas sector and substantial business employment opportunities providing both direct and indirect support to the sector.
Investment has also been planned to take the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project through the environmental assessment process and complete a project development agreement. This project has significant economic impacts and could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the diamond sector.
Third, resource development is spurring the NWT’s economy, but it alone cannot provide a sustainable, balanced and diversified economy. We are proposing investments of $3.1 million for Supporting Diversification in 2008–2009 that focuses on efforts to support small business development and tourism in the Northwest Territories. Activities include a new Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development, or SEED, policy and funding for refurbishment and expansion of the territorial parks system and for cultural interpretations at parks in all five regions.
Fourth, the NWT is rich in culture as well as natural resources and has enormous future potential. Promoting the NWT as a Place to Visit and Live is aimed at marketing and promoting the NWT and supporting its arts and crafts.
A critical element of this action is our increased support for the arts. This vital sector makes important economic contributions, and this support will allow us to implement aspects of the Arts Strategy.
The activities aimed at promoting the NWT at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver starting in 2008–2009 are to plan our involvement at the Olympics. These games are being dubbed Canada’s Games, and as we plan our involvement, we need to consider our priorities of economic diversification and youth. We want to use this opportunity to promote our territory and to showcase our northern artists, performers and culture. The Olympics may also provide an opportunity for youth to take part as ambassadors to our territory and get a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
These four actions all contribute to achieving a balanced, diversified and sustainable economy. They will promote development that reduces regional and community disparities, will help identify new economic opportunities, will support the development of sustainable local economies through small businesses and community-based sectors, and will help build community human resource capacity with an emphasis on trades and entrepreneurial skills.
The recently adopted GNWT Macroeconomic Policy Framework guides the GNWT’s investment in the NWT economy. The Maximizing Opportunities Committee will be overseeing the next step in setting out the GNWT’s economic road map — the development of a long-range economic investment plan that uses the criteria set out in the framework to evaluate the potential impacts of investments in the various sectors of our economy. This work will also guide investment decisions regarding the $4.2 million in the Community Development Trust funding received from Canada earlier this year.
The planned actions as part of the Maximizing Opportunities initiative will help us achieve our goals and vision of a strong, sustainable and prosperous NWT.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.