Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, you heard me talk about the need to work with small business sectors toward a shared vision for what we want to see small business look like in the North. My question today is for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister comment on what he sees as the main barriers to successful small business operations in the territory and how we might address them as a government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the main barriers, as I see it, is the ability to develop business plans and the access to financial assistance and aftercare so that the biggest barrier to being a successful business is getting through the first year and surviving for five years, so any aftercare we can provide. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Minister for his reply. I would also argue that there are some challenges found within dealing with our government as it relates to the barriers that small business face. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister comment on how the GNWT might further reduce red tape for independent business and boost its grade in the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s Red Tape Report Card?
Reducing red tape is a constant priority of our government and we spend a lot of time at it. I don't find the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Red Tape Report card of much help or assistance or very useful. I don't feel that having somebody coming down from Toronto once or twice a year and giving us a failing grade and not making any suggestions on how to improve. They don't go to the communities. I don't find that report very helpful.
Well then with that, I guess I ask the Minister: does the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment have a mechanism for collecting constructive feedback from small business to determine how government programs might better serve their needs?
Here in the Northwest Territories, we are very fortunate to have very strong Chambers of Commerce. We have the NWT Chamber of Commerce and we have at least five or six chambers throughout the Northwest Territories in every region. We have a very close relationship, and the NWT Chamber of Commerce shares our view of the red tape report, and because of the fact that we are a small jurisdiction, we can interact almost on a one-to-one basis with businesses, especially when we travel to the regions.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for his reply. This will be my final question. Does the Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment regularly review and consider successful small business programs in other jurisdictions, and if so, are there examples that could be implemented in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As a government, we participate in federal, provincial, and territorial meetings in a number of different areas. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment participates, FPTs and small business, so I always say that by participating, we gain a lot more than we contribute in these FPT meetings because we get access to best practices in every jurisdiction in Canada. Just recently, British Columbia has outlined what they're doing with small business. They have a round table for small business in BC that they feel every province and territory can benefit from doing something similar, so this is something that we have access to on a regular basis.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
