Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I opened my business, I introduced myself to local portrait photographers. My calls were largely met with negative remarks about how there was no market for photography here, how it won't generate a livable income, and how I was setting myself up to fail. Within a year, all except one had closed their doors, and soon after, a new generation of photographers began to grow in the North. We attended conferences, shared equipment and clients, encouraged one another, and together created a demand for our craft. Mr. Speaker, market disruption is not always a negative. It can be the catalyst that propels creativity, excellence, and community. In the pre-COVID days, businesses had time to evolve through change. Internet, for example, jump-started the evolution of online shopping. Retailers had time to grow and plans that promoted product both with and without brick and mortar storefronts and how to meet the needs of tech-savvy customers who wanted to shop from home.

COVID has presented abrupt new business challenges. Many have had to revamp their business models practically overnight to stay afloat. I want to again commend the resiliency and creativity of northern business owners as they have worked hard to respond to the realities of the pandemic. I also want to thank northern consumers who prioritized shopping local and see the long-term value of supporting our local business community. Business evolution isn't only a pivot of the feet, Mr. Speaker. It takes courage, planning, and cash flow. Northern businesses desperately need cash flow today to evolve their businesses. Fortunately, the GNWT's Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development, or SEED, program financially invest in the economic development ideas of northern entrepreneurs, but there's a catch, Mr. Speaker. To be eligible for funding, a business idea cannot cause market disruption, and this is keeping dollars from our existing northern businesses. I understand the GNWT's concern with market disruption, but, Mr. Speaker, at a time when the entire global economy is experiencing unprecedented market disruption, this policy should not be allowed to inhibit SEED funding from flowing into existing northern businesses.

I fully support SEED, but it must respond to the needs of its clientele in the current economic climate. I am therefore asking the ITI Minister to commit to allow existing businesses to apply for 2021 SEED funding on a first-come, first-served basis without applying the market disruption clause to help fund the evolution of their operations. Mr. Speaker, we can't afford to watch decades of northern businesses fail, but we can afford to remove one policy provision that stands in the way of government support that might help these businesses survive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.