This is page numbers 1389 - 1412 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was communities.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Eulogy for Lena Moses
Members' Statements

Page 1395

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Lena Moses Peters passed away in her home in Wrigley with her family by her side on July 9, at the age of 66, after losing her battle with terminal cancer. Lena was a very traditional woman who was able to look after herself and family in the wilderness. She was very proud of this fact. Lena embraced her culture and traditional teaching she received from her mother and grandmother. She passed this knowledge on to her own children, which they are very grateful for.

Lena was survived by her brother, Joseph Peters; sisters, Leanne Doctor, Evelyn Peters, and Martina; as well as her children Jamie, Wendy, Esther, and Dolores, and a number of grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Disease came upon her quickly, but the family would like to thank the Stanton Hospital staff for looking after their mother and showing all the kindness to her and her daughter. As well, the Fort Simpson Health Centre, for helping in those last days of her life.

Lena is now with her husband James Moses, in a better place, watching down on the Moses Peters family. I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the Peters and Moses family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Eulogy for Lena Moses
Members' Statements

Page 1395

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, as well. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to recognize my CA from Deninu Kue, Lorraine Villeneuve, here to visit. She just drove into town. I showed her around the building, and she already met a few of the Members, here. I'd like to welcome her to the Legislative Assembly today. Marsi cho.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1396

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I'd like to welcome those joining us today. It's always good to have people with us in the House. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Monfwi.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1396

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I'd like to acknowledge the interpreters that we have here. For myself, for Tlicho, the interpreters are Maro Sundberg and Harriet Paul. I'd like to thank them. I have to say we do speak the language, and we do pass on the message. I'd like to also acknowledge the rest of the interpreters. Thank you. [Translation ends]

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1396

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Thank you to the interpreters for the last week and a half, here. It's very important work that you do, and we thank you for that. Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Sahtu.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1396

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this time to acknowledge Ms. Teresa Etchinelle, who is the translator for the Sahtu. She is translating in the North Slavey language, and she is originally from Tulita. I'd just like to thank her for her services. Mahsi.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1396

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Sahtu. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Question 395-19(2): Aboriginal Procurement
Oral Questions

October 22nd, 2020

Page 1396

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Just in line with my Member's statement yesterday on procurement, I heard my colleague from Yellowknife North speak about wood stoves, and Mr. David Giroux does wood stoves in Detah. That's a pretty cool gig. My ultimate goal here is to see a company from one of our small communities that competes with the Amazons of the world, so I would like to see that. Anyway, my first question here is for the Minister of ITI, and my question for her is: how does the GNWT support Aboriginal and northern business development? Furthermore, what extra support is available to help build capacity in this sector? Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the interests of having only 59 minutes, I'll try to be a bit brief. It's a huge question. A few highlights, really, and I want to acknowledge at the outset that there is always more that can be done. This is a territory that is 50 percent Indigenous, and many of the communities are 100 percent Indigenous. I first want to acknowledge that there is always more that can be done.

A couple of things: there are regional economic development plans that fall under the responsibility of ITI, and if we can be successful in delivering those in partnership with the Indigenous governments, that is going to be an opportunity to work within each of those regions to make sure that the businesses there are being supported in the way that they need. That's an important part of ensuring that that happens.

Similarly, Mr. Speaker, regional mineral development strategies, funding is provided to the governments in those regions, to the Indigenous governments themselves, but with the support and the background from ITI so that they are developing their own regional plans and then have the capacity-building support to do that.

Then, I want to also mention, in terms of tourism, it's one particular sector, but it's an area that I've had the opportunity to know across Canada. The Indigenous tourism sector and association, the Indigenous Canadian Tourism Association, is growing. It is becoming a very strong area. Obviously, COVID is interrupting that a bit, but it will come back. We want to make sure that Indigenous tourism operators here in the Northwest Territories are ready. In Tourism 2025, it is contemplated that that is a sector that will get specific supports and specific training, so there is a lot of work already happening. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for that response from the Minister. I really think there is a gap there to help our businesses along because, ultimately, we don't want to see any of our businesses fail. We want to see them thrive, start and thrive, and get them out of the garages, for an idea that starts from birth to see them succeed later on. That's what the ultimate goal is. Anyway, my next question is: has the GNWT looked at programs such as the 8(a) Program or similar programs as a model that could be followed here in the Northwest Territories?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

I had the opportunity to review the materials around the 8(a) Program that comes out of the United States, and I can't say that that program has been looked at as a model for the Northwest Territories. I do want to assure the Member that ITI does look at best practices that come from across Canada in terms of how we are supporting local business and will continue to do so.

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Again, thank you for that response. Okay. Switching gears a little bit, will the GNWT set a goal or a target to increase government contracts for Indigenous business?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

I think that is a very good idea, but I am not at the point yet where I can say for sure whether or not that will be the outcome of the procurement review that is under way, or about to be under way, I suppose. Again, I think I have already committed in the House that the idea of developing and Indigenous procurement strategy is something that I will commit to. Whether that includes a specific target or not, again, that is but one of many good ideas that I think are coming from the dialogues that we're having in this session on this topic.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Again, thank you for that response. At least we'll get that dialogue going. Like I said, we want to make sure we get as much juice for our squeeze for our businesses and business community. My last question: in my riding, in order for a new business in Ndilo, Detah, Deninu Kue, or Lutselk'e, to compete on government contracts, what supports are there for the businesses in my riding? Marsi cho.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

There are business supports that ITI does have in terms of providing business mentorship. The Business Mentoring Program run through ITI has been, in fact, oversubscribed for the last two years, so I think that speaks to its success. I certainly would plug that program. There are certainly funding supports through ITI, for example, with the SEED Program that can help businesses as they are getting started. Then, of course, in terms of accessing contracting, there are the existing programs under BIP, for instance, that can help businesses gain access to government procurement, and there are certainly supports through procurement shared services in terms of helping businesses navigate the procurement process.

There are a lot of ways the government is trying to support and help businesses, but I'm going to put in one more plug: there is also the fact that we are going to continue to review those processes. It's been a long time since there has been a full review, so we're going to review them and make sure that they're doing the best that they can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide us with a timeline for when we can expect his department to announce where the headquarters of the future polytechnic university will reside? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since February, I've been talking about an implementation plan that I'm going to be releasing that will lay out the path forward to a final transformation to a polytechnic university, and I will be releasing that in the coming weeks. That is going to have some key dates in there, and it talks about things like the facilities plan. The college is going to go out and do an assessment of all the different facilities and see what's in place, and that can inform things like programming and things like the Member is talking about. I can say, and I've said before, I've never heard any discussion from within the department about moving the headquarters. If there is already a headquarters in Fort Smith, I don't know why we would build a headquarters somewhere else.

I don't have an exact timeline for the Member, but we will be appointing a board at some point in the future. That board is going to operate at arm's length, and it's going to have much more discretion over human resources matters. That's what everyone wants, is an arm's length board. I can't tell that board what to do, but I have no plans to move any headquarters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Does the Minister consider it problematic that the City of Yellowknife is already operating under the assumption that a future polytechnic university will be headquartered here, in spite of no formal announcement?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I'm not sure under what premise the City of Yellowknife is operating. I'm sure they have a desire to have infrastructure built in the community. I mean, any community leader does. I expect that, but I think there is a lot of maybe confusion about what a university has to be, these days. A lot of people, in their minds, still see a big, single building made of brick with ivy growing up the walls and a big quad where students are sitting out in the sun reading, but that's not the way things are these days. With technology, you can have campuses that are spread out. When I went to university, I was in one faculty, and there was a faculty next door to me. I never went in that building. It could have been a thousand miles away, as far as I was concerned. I want to dispel the notion that a polytechnic university is going to be one single campus in one single community. The plan is to strengthen all of the campuses in the territory, and the community learning centres, and the presence of the college in all communities.