Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, immigration enriches our communities, enhances our economy, strengthens our diversity, and grows our population, which is a very important goal for this government. Though the benefits of immigration are indisputable, the policies that govern immigration are often complex and difficult to make effective in various jurisdictions in Canada. Mr. Speaker, immigration is a shared responsibility and much of it is under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Our government operates its own nominee program through the Departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Education, Culture and Employment. This program can fast track applications for permanent residency, assist prospective employers, and help foreign workers and their families make NWT their permanent home.

Immigration has been raised to a high profile through its inclusion in our mandate, which commits to increasing the number of immigrants working in the NWT and investment by immigrants by implementing an immigration strategy, which is now underway. Mr. Speaker, we will talk about where this strategy does not touch, which is family reunification. Many of the people who come here through our nominee program contribute valuable services to the community, enhance our labour pool, and open small businesses, but it's very difficult in many cases for them to have their family members join them, extended family members, not immediate family members. I met with some new Canadians in the Northwest Territories, and they said it is easier to bring a nanny in to help them than their own grandparents to help watch their kids. It just doesn't make sense, Mr. Speaker. Their concerns are that, without that family reunification piece in place, where other provinces are doing it better, the NWT is a less favourable place to live.

We need to strengthen this aspect that worked for the federal government to build a stronger family reunification program so we can ensure that all of our residents and, in this case, particularly newcomers to Canada can bring their families here and enjoy the quality of life that they expect and that they could find in other places in Canada and the world. We need to make the NWT the best it can be on immigration. I know we have willing partners with both Ministers across the aisle to make this happen. I'll have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on how we can make this happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.