Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I share with you some of the excellent work being led by our colleagues at the Arctic Council and Permanent Participant Gwich'in Council International on the issue of renewable energy, an area that this government is active in through such initiatives at the Solar Energy Strategy and the Alternative Energy Technology Program.
Later this month, the Arctic Renewable Energy Networks Academy -- abbreviated to ARENA -- will kick off here in Yellowknife. It is a nine-month program for 20 individuals from the Circumpolar Arctic to participate in classroom and laboratory learning and visits to communities operating on renewable energy resources to gain first-hand insights. ARENA also features a webinar series which introduces remote energy network/microgrid concepts.
I am pleased to see that the Government of the Northwest Territories is partnering on this initiative alongside several federal departments and agencies. The GNWT investment in ARENA is important for three reasons, Mr. Speaker:
• it gives the NWT residents access to top-notch professional development programs;
• it advances our interests in switching our communities from diesel-power generation to renewable sources; and
• it shows our commitment towards supporting the Indigenous peoples from our region in the leadership role that they are taking on circumpolar policy challenges.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that this support continues as Gwich'in Council International is proposing for the first time to lead a project at the Arctic Council. The Arctic Sustainable Energy Futures Toolkit will be a print and web-based guide for communities to follow when developing and exercising community energy planning processes.
The toolkit will draw upon best practices to help communities create and implement their energy visions, as well as increase energy literacy and capacity for community members and help build bridges between communities and agency officials and subject matter experts.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my support for this project and hope that the GNWT will continue to be an active and supportive partner on renewable energy projects at the Arctic Council across the Northwest Territories. Quyanainni Mr. Speaker.