I closed my comments to you last year by saying how much I was looking forward to seeing you all “in person” in 2021. But here we are again, meeting virtually.
What for the NWT was primarily an economic crisis this time last year has escalated over the summer and fall to be a serious health care situation that continues to have a great impact on residents, communities, and businesses.
I share the hope with many of you here today that with high vaccine uptake we have begun to turn a corner on a critical period for the Northwest Territories, and we can once again anticipate the eventual reopening of the territory to national and international visitors.
When that reopening will happen, I cannot say. As we’ve all come to learn over the last couple years, and perhaps even more so in the last couple of months, the evolving COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty around timelines.
But despite the unknowns, there are still some things we can be certain about.
The first is this: The GNWT is committed to protecting its tourism industry through the duration of this pandemic.
Our partnership with NWTT has been crucial in mapping our path forward. For example, some of you with remote operations have benefitted from the exemption negotiated by NWTT, allowing you to host non-resident leisure travellers this summer.
The GNWT has also committed over $10 million for tourism relief, and an additional $30 million has flowed to the NWT’s airline industry.
Most recently, we’ve introduced the Tourism Recovery and Investment Program, or TRIP, as an anchor in our tourism recovery platform so that operators could start preparing to welcome customers back.
In this same vein, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment introduced the Labour Market Recovery Wage Grant to assist small businesses in retaining employees through the pandemic.
The PREP and STAR Programs continue to be available as a source of economic relief as well.
Our support will not end when the borders reopen. The Tourism 2025 strategy will guide our ongoing recovery and help reposition our tourism industry for growth and prosperity.
The second thing I can tell you today with certainty is that progress is being made to reopen the NWT.
Most significantly, vaccine uptake is steadily increasing worldwide.
As people around the world get vaccinated, the public health risk is being mitigated and governments can relax restrictions that have been put in place – including those on travel.
The GNWT has been working with governments across the country to develop a new standardized vaccine certificate that NWT residents can use to show they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, including for use when new federal regulations for air travel come into effect. The NWT’s proof of vaccine certificate was introduced earlier this month and is now in place as we continue to work to address the number of active cases in our territory.
Vaccines will soon be available to children in the NWT and vaccine boosters to high-risk residents. As vaccination certificates and passports become the norm, the confidence of the vaccinated traveler will increase and we expect to see leisure travel begin a slow but steady recovery.
I’m going to channel my colleague, Minister of Health, Julie Green, here, but I believe that one of the biggest things that we can do to support the return of tourism to our territory is to promote the benefits of a vaccinated population and to be prepared to operate in an environment where vaccinations are a pre-requisite to travel.
There is an important role that you can play in this space: many of those who are in the remaining 10-15% of the population who are unvaccinated may attribute their decision to a lack of confidence or trust in government. We need support in the public and private sectors for science, specifically for the medical science that underlies government decisions about vaccination policy.
The final certainty that I want to leave with you is this: the natural value and attraction of the NWT’s Spectacular tourism product is unchanged.
NWTT has done an amazing job of keeping the NWT top of mind with future travellers and in keeping the dreams of travel to the NWT alive.
There will be new opportunities that emerge from post-crisis travel. For example, some people may put higher priority on major bucket-list trips that include major expeditions whether by canoe or overland; and others might prioritize locations that are strongly linked to nature for solitude or connection. With its rich cultures, unique landscapes and natural beauty, our territory is as attractive as it ever has been. Northerners will always be warm and welcoming; our industry strong and resilient; and our tourism product spectacular.