Minister of Industry Tourism and Investment Caroline Wawzonek joined her colleagues Hon. Ranj Pillai (Yukon) and Hon. David Akeeagok (Nunavut) on the PDAC International stage Tuesday for a discussion about mineral development in Canada’s North.

Titled The Northern Advantage, the Ministers of Mining panel was facilitated by group publisher of the Northern Miner, Anthony Vaccaro. The discussion centered on the key aspects of the mineral investment case for Canada’s three most northerly territories.

The Northern Food Innovation Challenge is a pan-Canadian challenge aimed at increasing food security in the NWT. 

Mr. Speaker, professional engineers and geoscientists play an essential role in the growth and development of the Northwest Territories.  They help address our society’s needs and solve our problems. Their work is evident all around us – in our buildings, highways and airports; in our safe drinking water; in our power and communications; and in our mapping and resource development in the North, to name a few.

Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that as we focus this sitting on the government’s budget, including how GNWT spending impacts the NWT economy and the role it can play in our economic recovery efforts, we are also beginning a territory-wide conversation about our government’s procurement practices and policies. Procurement is a significant tool that can positively increase the benefits of government spending on the private sector and, as a result, on the economy as a whole.