Mr. Chair, yes, the review should be complete by this fall. We certainly would look forward to at the earliest opportunity this fall to get that information before Members. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, thanks to the Minister for those remarks. I look forward to that program review office report.

The department and this division specifically is also the lead on trade matters. I know we are hosting the Agreement on Internal Trade, I believe it is. The GNWT is hosting this year. Is the Minister committed to retaining support for local businesses over outside businesses outside the Northwest Territories coming in and taking over from local businesses?

The example I use is, for example, an undertaking service is something that it takes a certain population to develop, and when one does develop, we obviously want to keep it. It would be run by people that know us and our families in a way that helps with that whole process. It has a lot of local benefits over an external company coming in from afar. That is an example.

We know that in that field the corporations are getting bigger and bigger and starting to roll over local providers of this sort of service. That is just by way of an example. Can I get assurance that the Minister is protecting our local businesses, especially our small ones? Thank you.

Mr. Chair, yes, we are set to host the meeting next week. We have had to re-evaluate how those meetings would take place. It is going to be a conference call with other Ministers from around the country and the federal government as well.

In regard to the Member’s comments about allowing international companies to come in and take business away from local businesses, I think we have a few things we can look to to protect us from that happening. Of course, there is the Business Incentive Policy here in the NWT. There are regional economic measures. There are Aboriginal economic programs. I believe those will protect businesses here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I think the Minister probably meant national corporations, if this is the internal trade. It just has to do with Canada. I was meaning companies external to the Northwest Territories, but Canadian or other companies within Canada that more and more seem to be Americans these days under the Conservative government, but I was referring to national companies. If I can just get confirmation on that. Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Chair, that is correct. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, thanks for that confirmation. Thanks for the Minister’s assurances there on protection of local businesses in the Northwest Territories.

The other one we know is that the Minister is spending time in Ottawa with the federal government and other provincial-territorial governments negotiating the European and Free Trade Agreement, so-called free trade. There is no such thing but that is what they seem to call it, and negotiating on behalf of our municipalities because, in this particular so-called Free Trade Agreement, corporations are always digging to get access further and further and now they are trying to get access to our municipalities and eventually they will be in our homes. They already are in some ways. They are driven in this way and want access at every level, while protecting the naturally confidential aspects of this demanding and non-transparent process. Has the Minister managed to consult with our municipalities to get their input towards the negotiations on the European Free Trade Agreement in a way that doesn’t defy this demand for confidentiality and non-transparency? Thank you.

Mr. Chair, first of all, I believe it is good that the Northwest Territories is at the table to protect our interests. We are included, not excluded, in these discussions. I want to put that out there first and foremost.

In regard to municipalities, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities had expressed concerns over any international agreement that would be binding upon municipalities and the tendering or procurement practices. The FCM suggested that the FCM be included and CETA at discussions. The FCM has also called on all provincial and territorial municipality associations to present resolutions to that effect to the respective provincial or territorial governments. The NWTAC made a subsequent request to all their member municipalities. A subsequent CETA resolution was received and discussed at the NWTAC general meeting which took place in Norman Wells a couple of weeks ago. ITI staff were there to make a presentation with regard to CETA and any possible impacts it may have on NWT municipalities. Subsequently, a resolution was carried at the AGM within the NWTAC top priority category that urges the GNWT to exempt communities from the CETA. The formal NWTAC resolution package is expected to be provided to the GNWT for a response in the near future. Thank you.

That is excellent news. Was that process initiated by this government? Did it come from municipalities independently? Thank you.

Mr. Chair, it was a joint effort. Thank you.

Excellent. Thank you for that comment. What is the situation with Nunavut? Does the Minister know what Nunavut’s stance is on this Free Trade Agreement? Thank you.

Not today, Mr. Chair, but perhaps next week. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ramsay. I would ask the Member to maybe refrain from asking more questions on Northwest Territories issues. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I may just be allowed to complete the thought and relieve you of that concern, I think it is important that we are low on population in the North. It is useful to get together with our sister territories and develop common positions. I believe I have heard the Premier say that a number of times. I know that the Minister, too, agrees with that. I would have thought that we would have been in consultation with our sister territories. Are we in consultation with any of our sister territories? Thank you.

Mr. Vician.

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Bromley, your time is up. If you want to ask more questions, I will ask again here. Page 12-31, activity summary, economic diversification, business support, operations expenditure summary, $22.222 million. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I may, just to conclude that discussion; I appreciate this opportunity. Obviously, that is exactly the concern. It is a very well designed process to be totally non-transparent and try and reduce the communications and transparency. I am glad to hear the work the Minister is doing on this with the municipalities. I hope he will take these concerns to those meetings. I hope he also expresses concern about the lack of transparency, such as not being able to talk to our sister territories because of concerns about confidentiality. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the Member’s comments and they’re duly noted. Thank you.

That’s all. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. We’ll move on to Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to ask the Minister on the impacts of closing and opening of mines and the oilfields and closing down. Is the Minister working on these things that we can have within our reading material? For example, Selwyn-Chihong is downscaling their mining production. This has some impacts in the Sahtu because the road comes through the Northwest Territories when they want to take out the minerals to market. Is there something that the Minister is working in the North?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess I need a little bit more clarification from the Member in terms of what exactly he wants to know we’re working on.

We know the status at any one time of the various projects that are underway across the Northwest Territories in the area of development and

advancement. If there’s one in particular he wants an update on, we can provide that, but I’m not sure if he’s looking for a comprehensive view of all the projects that are ongoing or how that works. So maybe I’ll just go back to the Member for clarification on what he’s looking for. I’d be happy to provide it again.