Mr. Chairman, at this time last year we were in the middle of a worldwide recession, unlike any we have seen since the Great Depression, which has serious impacts on the NWT economy. NWT economy is expected to rebound and while we are not out of the doldrums just yet, the department is looking at investments in 2010-2011 to help our economy continue on the road to recovery.

These proposed investments will come in areas such as small business development, arts and fine crafts, sport hunting, agriculture, NWT fish and meat harvesting and processing, renewable energy planning and parks.

Mr. Chairman, I will now provide some detail on the department’s proposed spending plans for the upcoming fiscal year.