Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment is pleased to provide a Report on Supporting Northern Businesses and commends it to the House, Mr. Speaker.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment made it a priority early in the life of the 19th Legislative Assembly to increase the northern responsiveness by government policies and services in an effort to stimulate diversity among northern businesses, particularly Indigenous businesses. To achieve this goal, committee reviewed Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) policies, programs, and legislation related to business development. Committee also conducted internal research and engaged with stakeholders and the public at large. Several Members of the 19th Assembly raised concerns with support for the private sector especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee has considered all this information and used it to inform a range of recommendations to the GNWT with the intent and purpose of building and diversifying the NWT economy and improving business support services and programs.
Recommendation 1:
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the GNWT increase transparency to all capital projects and especially public three-year capital plans of projects of small communities and regional centres so businesses can plan.
Recommendation 2:
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the GNWT track and limit sole source contracts by creating a target to ensure:
- No more than 15 percent of all contracts over $25,000 are issued to sole source contracts;
- Regular public reports and achievement target be provided within six months of the end of each fiscal year; and,
- That these public reports outline sole source contracts given to non-NWT businesses as well as the departments using sole source methods most often.
Recommendation 3:
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that contractual provisions limit change orders to no more than 15 percent of the original cost of the project and that be a regular review of change orders requiring ministerial oversight and no change orders greater than $10,000.
Recommendation 4:
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends to improve public reporting actual benefits achieved under negotiated contracts to better track the impact of this spending; and, further recommends that the GNWT's public reports on this spending indicate the local accommodations used and the number of jobs created.
Recommendation 5:
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the GNWT review the U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) Program, which currently serves Indigenous businesses, such as those owned by the Alaska native corporations and native Hawaiian organizations with the purpose of developing similar programs like this in the NWT.
Recommendation 6:
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the GNWT create and implement an Indigenous Procurement Policy that addresses economic gaps in the NWT by giving preference to Indigenous businesses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.