Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark an important occasion for the northern business community, as the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce is marking Small Business Week. It's a time to recognize and celebrate the men and women who work in small business, the backbone of our local economy.
Small businesses offer so much to our community. They support sports and recreation, they support youth and seniors, they contribute to the arts, and their generosity supports Yellowknife's vibrant and colourful festivals. Most importantly, as they succeed and grow, they create jobs, making our economy and community stronger and more robust.
I also want to take the opportunity to congratulate the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce on 70 years of representing, supporting and advocating for the business community in our capital city. The Chamber works tirelessly in support of Yellowknife businesses and is a great benefit to our vibrant community and the North. Examples include initiatives like Small Business Week in support of the independent entrepreneurs in our community and region. The annual tradeshow sponsored by the chamber brings together businesses from around the community and the whole Territory promoting and facilitating creativity, innovation, and the sharing of ideas. Other initiatives include business luncheons and the Afterhours Networking Program. All these programs are set up to encourage the interchange of ideas, independence and progressive growth in business. The healthier climate for exchange of ideas in networking among business owners supports a more robust and active economy. The chamber also advocates for businesses with the city, territorial, and other levels of government. It deserves credit for good relationships and communication between these different entities which help us as a community and a territory to move forward together.
Mr. Speaker, a healthy diversified economy with a vibrant small business community is crucial to our ability to move forward as a territory. Small businesses create jobs and wealth and disposable income that goes right back into the economy. As our economy grows broader and more diverse it becomes healthier, more secure and more robust. Mr. Speaker, the chamber is an important supporter of healthy NWT business community and we all benefit from that. Through you, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce on its 70th anniversary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.