Mr. Speaker, the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy, or EOS, is the most informed approach ever taken to advancing economic development in the NWT. Since the implementation plan for the EOS was tabled last October, we have been working hard to put the recommendations and initiatives outlined in the strategy in place.
Today I would like to update Members on the progress we are making on a few of these initiatives.
Responsibility for the implementation of the EOS is shared by a number of GNWT departments along with our strategy partners, the NWT Chamber of Commerce, the NWT Association of Communities, the Northern Aboriginal Business Association and the Government of Canada’s Northern Economic Development Agency, CanNor.
Recognizing the opportunities that tourism offers for economic development throughout the NWT, several EOS recommendations reflect how to capitalize on these opportunities.
This year ITI and NWT Tourism formalized a two-year contribution agreement in which NWT Tourism would develop a convention bureau to attract and facilitate business tourism, conferences and industry events to the NWT. The convention bureau is already working to attract meetings and conventions to the NWT, and I am confident that all regions will benefit from visitors who travel to other parts of the territory before and after their meetings.
We have also reached an agreement with the Canadian Executive Service Organization to strengthen our Tourism Business Mentorship Program, and we continue to work with the Aboriginal Tourism Advisory Council to establish cultural tourism products for the NWT. Destination Deline is a partnered initiative between the community and ITI and a great example of a proven viable model for attracting tour groups to the NWT’s smaller communities.
Mr. Speaker, we have also been responding to recommendations to grow a stable and attractive entrepreneurial environment in our territory. This includes exploring opportunities to diversify our economy and strengthen the fishery, film and agriculture sectors.
Last month we launched the Great Slave Lake Fresh Fish brand and accompanying marketing campaign. This is the first element of a multi-pronged initiative to revitalize our territory’s fishing industry.
To support the film sector, we have put a pilot rebate program in place. For the first time in the NWT, this program will provide financial incentives to productions filming on location in our territory.
We are also developing an agriculture strategy to grow our territory’s rapidly evolving agriculture sector with our partners, the NWT Association of Communities, the Territorial Farmers Association and the Northern Farm Training Institute. Also, using a partnered approach, the NWT Chamber of Commerce is leading an initiative with ITI, the Northern Aboriginal Business Association and CanNor to develop an information and media campaign promoting and encouraging small business growth in the NWT, and we are also developing a marketing plan that will increase
awareness and purchase of made-in-the-NWT products.
In response to services that entrepreneurs have said they need, we are connecting businesses and entrepreneurs in the NWT’s small communities with professional bookkeeping and accounting services, through the Professional and Financial Support Program.
We are streamlining information about funding programs and services through a new online database.
Mr. Speaker, our partnered approach to advance the recommendations set out in the EOS is key to this strategy’s success.
Our partnership with CanNor has offered us the opportunity to leverage significant joint funding efforts in support of advancing everything from geoscience, to agriculture to tourism. This includes CanNor funding of $5.3 million to build the geoscience knowledge base of the Lac de Gras region, joint funding of $4.2 million to establish a permanent campus for the Northern Farm Training Institute in Hay River and the launch of the Northern Greenhouse Initiative to advance the commercialization and productivity of greenhouse projects across the North; and the most recent announcement of joint CanNor funding of over $10 million in our tourism industry, which will be focused on smaller communities with emerging tourism opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, the responsibility of developing a strong economy belongs to us all as we work to achieve our goal of a diversified economy that provides all communities with opportunities and choices. I look forward to sharing a complete report of all the work, initiatives and investments that we have taken to advance the EOS recommendations with Members later this spring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.