Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government supports any initiatives that will enhance the situation of Aboriginal Peoples and also reinforce their Aboriginal rights and treaties. Certainly, I will be consulting with the Aboriginal governments to see if they are in full support of the announcement by the Prime Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think we have had this discussion before. We will certainly work with our Aboriginal government partners. If they are in support, we will fully support the initiative, as well.

I'd be prepared to look at that, but, obviously, we've gotten to a lot of issues with the fact that we need to protect the government's investments, and if we make progress payments without the necessary securities, then it might put us in a difficult situation. Certainly, now that the Member has raised it, even though I do not know if it is a committee concern, I am prepared to look at that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I've had many meetings with the NWT Chamber of Commerce and almost in every instance, when we raise concerns about procurement, it's because of a difference in understanding. Certainly, if the Members can provide me with a list of the problems, as they see them, then we can determine whether there is actually a need for a review of it. And, as I said, the last time I met with the Chamber of Commerce, which was about four months ago, we asked them to tell us what they see as the problem or what concerns they have, and then we can act on it. Certainly, if we have a whole host of problems where...

Mr. Speaker, today I'm pleased to recognize the following people from Dene Nahjo in the gallery today. They are authors of "We are One Mind - Perspectives from Emerging Indigenous Leaders on the Arctic Policy Framework," a document that I will be tabling later today; Nina Larsson, Kayla Kakfwi Scott, Mandee McDonald and Deneshe N'akehkoe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table to following document released by the Dene Nahjo, a report prepared with the Gordon Foundation entitled "We are One Mind - Perspectives from Emerging Indigenous Leaders on the Arctic Policy Framework." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd be pleased to do so if somebody would tell me what the problem was. Is it a service problem? It's been suggested that our employees are not providing the necessary service to businesses. If that's the problem, then we can look at educating our employees further, which we seem to be doing a lot of. If it's the policy problem, well, tell us what the problems are, then we can determine. I mean, working for the government, I like doing reviews, but I want to have a reason for doing it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've been in government a long time. I've probably been through about six reviews of the Business Incentive Policy, and every time we've brought it forward, there have been no changes because everybody sees that the Business Incentive Policy is the best government policy ever written. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, the Arctic Policy Framework is a federal policy. There are no guarantees, because it will be developed by the federal government. Having said that, the federal government has seen fit, in their definition of "Arctic," to include not only Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories, but have also included Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Manitoba, and, of course, Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the Metis National Council. As I said, this is the federal government.

Nonetheless, we are working very hard to include all sectors, all...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table to following letter from Gary Vivian, President of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, to myself, Premier McLeod, dated February 12, 2018, commending the Government of the Northwest Territories for sending a strong signal that the Northwest Territories is serious about its minerals industry, through its presence at roundup 2018, along with representatives of NWT Indigenous governments that are emerging and that are engaging in their own work to attract mineral investments and jobs to their regions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.