Bob McLeod

Mr. Speaker, this is Tourism Week in Canada. It is a chance for us to highlight the tremendous importance of this sector to our national and local economies, and to our lives as Canadians. More than any other sector in the Northwest Territories, tourism offers spin-off benefits and the potential to establish and grow viable and sustainable ventures in every one of our 33 communities.

Last season, tourism contributed over $137.9 million to the Northwest Territories economy; not just to individual owners and operators, but to service suppliers in accommodations, transportation, the food and...

I’d be pleased to share the results of our summer student hiring with all of the Members in this Assembly. We have, in the past, looked at reducing summer student wages so that we could hire more summer students and we have looked at maybe using the minimum wage for summer students. Certainly, we know that we are not the only employer in the Northwest Territories; there are other employers that we feel should do their share of hiring summer students. We also have programs that will allow...where we contribute to the private sector hiring summer students and also boards and agencies. Certainly...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to recognize my biggest supporter and wife of 35-plus years, Melody McLeod. Also, my sister-in-law, Evelyn McLeod, former long-time resident of Yellowknife who now lives in Cambellford, Ontario. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly we want to maintain and maximize benefits to our northern workforce and northern businesses, so we take whatever steps and tools that are available to us to ensure that we maximize those benefits. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories still has the Business Incentive Policy in place and operational. It provides a 15 percent preference for BIP approved companies; as well, a further 5 percent local preference for businesses from the local community. If a company comes in from the south and puts in a bid, the local companies have a 20 percent northern preference. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We operate in an environment where we have a number of internal trade agreements and we follow those conventions although we do have, through the Agreement on Internal Trade, the Northern Preference Policy is grandfathered. But certainly our existing programs already recognize what the Member is suggesting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a number of tools at our disposal. Primarily we have a Negotiated Contracts Policy whereby we can negotiate or limit tenders to northern businesses that we have MOUs, and contracting with a number of aboriginal governments, and also we use the standing offer agreements with local businesses. As well, we can buy locally up to $5,000. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a code of conduct for employees respecting conflict of interest. We also have an oath of secrecy for employees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this evening the francophone population of the Northwest Territories will honour their own with the first Francophone Entrepreneurial Awards. These awards will not only identify outstanding francophone businesses, but will highlight the importance of French entrepreneurs in developing the economy of the Northwest Territories.

French entrepreneurs have been active in the North for over 300 years. It is good to see that their efforts are being acknowledged. The event will be held here in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly and hosted by Counseil de developpement economique des...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we investigate these types of complaints or businesses, we use spirit and intent. The whole spirit and intent of the Business Incentive Policy is to provide for northern preference. Certainly we would investigate and our normal practice is if they don’t meet the criteria, then they wouldn’t be eligible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.