Wally Schumann

First, let's be clear. We are not limiting the contracts that NWT businesses can bid on. There is a limit in place on the dollar amount of the total adjustment that can be applied, and that is $500,000. While the intent of the Business Incentive Policy is to support northern businesses and recognize the higher costs of doing business in the North, we also have a public responsibility to ensure effective and appropriate expenditure of public resources. In a review that was taken a number of years ago, it was determined that the total bid adjustment of $500,000 was a fair amount and would offset...

I am going to give a fulsome answer here, so just bear with me. Okay? The threshold for dissent requirement is low federal consent is required for any amendment that would affect the regulatory functions of the NEB and the ISR onshore. Given that low threshold for federal consent requirement, ITI staff began engaging with the federal government in 2018, in July. ITI staff worked with the federal government and the NEB to ensure that it would be able to obtain federal consent for any amendments it proposed. The federal government, through an order in council dated May 21, 2019, provided its...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intent of the Business Incentive Policy when it was created was always to support the creation and growth of a competitive business sector in the Northwest Territories. As I have said in the House before, this is probably one of the best policies the Government of the Northwest Territories ever created. The policy recognizes the additional costs that northern operators experience in the Northwest Territories, and what this policy does is allow businesses to adjust their bids by 20 percent versus southern bidders, and it leverages our government in our procurement...

As I have said, Mr. Chair, these SDL-holders that hold a significant amount of opportunity in the Northwest Territories are put into a spot right for you, as the Member from the Sahtu earlier said in his comments today, to attract investment into the Northwest Territories versus some of these other opportunities that lie globally. We are at a significant disadvantage, the way things are playing out globally. There are a lot of challenges around that industry.

Canada, as a whole, is having a problem attracting the oil and gas industry back to Canada as an investment opportunity, and we will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Strong economies must encourage economic diversity and, while our economy relies on the resource sector as its foundation, our government has committed to fostering an economic environment where our residents can find success across a variety of sectors.

It is also this government's view that true economic diversity for the Northwest Territories also means getting the most out of secondary industries arising from our diamond sector, while also working to branch out and encourage the responsible development of new resources.

Through the life of this government, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It has been quite clear; we cannot change these existing SDLs that are already put into place. There would be significant litigation possibilities, as I have said to committee when we discussed this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It's either by consent or drilling order. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 41, Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act, be read for the third time; and, Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Under the current regulations, it's indefinite. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We will have a look at it, and we will do the best that we can. If we can accommodate that timeline, we will certainly do it, but if it is going to take longer, I will let the Member know. Thank you, Mr. Chair.