David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my right is Sylvia Haener, deputy minister, Department of Justice; and to my left is Ms. Kim Schofield, director of finance, Department of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling the Northwest Territories Coroner Service 2013 Annual Report. This report sets out some information on the history of the coroner’s service, the role and structure of the office and some information on their work in 2013. This report reminds us that in the Northwest Territories, we have a number of dedicated volunteers who are deeply committed to assisting those in their communities at times of tragedy. They work with circumstances and situations that most of us are unable or unwilling to face.

Coroners play a vital role in our justice system. They...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to take a second to thank David Brock for his service to the House and to the residents of the Northwest Territories. He is a consummate professional. I wish him well in his future endeavours, and I am very happy to see a local woman become the new Chief Electoral Officer here in the Northwest Territories, a proud moment for our territory and a proud moment for Ms. Latour.

Mr. Speaker, our goal is to develop the commercial fishery on Great Slave Lake, and if we can’t do that within our borders with the fisher people that we have here in the Northwest Territories, certainly we have to look outside of our borders for other opportunities to attract fisher people to come to the Northwest Territories. That is really how the industry got started in the first place, was folks coming to Great Slave Lake and fishing Great Slave Lake that weren’t from the Northwest Territories, and that’s something that we currently are exploring. Thank you.

We have a number of programs through ITI that are going to help in attracting new fishers to the industry and, as well, helping those that are already in the industry. We have a Fish Harvesters Support Program, we have a Commercial Fish Harvesters Support Program, we have a Fish Harvesters Expansion Program, we have a Fish Harvesters New Entrants Support Program and also some core funding available to existing fishermen on Great Slave Lake. Thank you.

Again, through the EOS, we have identified some money for training, and in the case of Sandy Creek Lodge on the Hay River Reserve, I will go back to the department and see if we can get some staff to contact the reserve and the folks that are operating the lodge to see where it is we can best help them and we’ll try to get them the help that they need. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table to following document, entitled “Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation ‘13-14 Annual Report” and “Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation ‘14-15 Corporate Plan.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To accommodate the translation needs, the department has arranged for the RCMP “G” Division members to have access to language line services, or CanTalk. It’s a 24-hour translation service for most languages, including many Aboriginal languages. In addition, OCC maintains a list of the languages spoken by “G” Division members and employees.

The RCMP “G” Division has on staff an Aboriginal person who is a recruiter specifically for the Northwest Territories. The role of the recruiter is to travel to communities and make RCMP career presentations to interested individuals. While there, there are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Operations and Communications Centre is located here in Yellowknife. It provides services to every community across the Northwest Territories. The centre currently has 21 employees, which includes four operators and one supervisor per 12-hour shift.

The OCC is able to make direct contact with at least one officer from each detachment across the Northwest Territories at all times. We have an operation that is centrally located. It’s the most cost-effective and efficient way to operate a very specialized 24/7 policing operation. Calls from communities are taken, as I...

Mr. Speaker, now that the Government of the Northwest Territories is responsible for administering the territory’s onshore petroleum resources, we are looking ahead to effectively plan and manage the NWT’s world-class oil and gas potential for the benefit of all residents.

To encourage future exploration and responsible development of oil and gas reserves in the territory, the Department of Industry, Tourism and investment is preparing for its first ever call cycle for oil and gas exploration rights.

Mr. Speaker, at this stage, the petroleum rights issuance process is moving forward with the...