Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Just in line with my Member's statement yesterday on procurement, I heard my colleague from Yellowknife North speak about wood stoves, and Mr. David Giroux does wood stoves in Detah. That's a pretty cool gig. My ultimate goal here is to see a company from one of our small communities that competes with the Amazons of the world, so I would like to see that. Anyway, my first question here is for the Minister of ITI, and my question for her is: how does the GNWT support Aboriginal and northern business development? Furthermore, what extra support is available to help build capacity in this sector? Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the interests of having only 59 minutes, I'll try to be a bit brief. It's a huge question. A few highlights, really, and I want to acknowledge at the outset that there is always more that can be done. This is a territory that is 50 percent Indigenous, and many of the communities are 100 percent Indigenous. I first want to acknowledge that there is always more that can be done.
A couple of things: there are regional economic development plans that fall under the responsibility of ITI, and if we can be successful in delivering those in partnership with the Indigenous governments, that is going to be an opportunity to work within each of those regions to make sure that the businesses there are being supported in the way that they need. That's an important part of ensuring that that happens.
Similarly, Mr. Speaker, regional mineral development strategies, funding is provided to the governments in those regions, to the Indigenous governments themselves, but with the support and the background from ITI so that they are developing their own regional plans and then have the capacity-building support to do that.
Then, I want to also mention, in terms of tourism, it's one particular sector, but it's an area that I've had the opportunity to know across Canada. The Indigenous tourism sector and association, the Indigenous Canadian Tourism Association, is growing. It is becoming a very strong area. Obviously, COVID is interrupting that a bit, but it will come back. We want to make sure that Indigenous tourism operators here in the Northwest Territories are ready. In Tourism 2025, it is contemplated that that is a sector that will get specific supports and specific training, so there is a lot of work already happening. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for that response from the Minister. I really think there is a gap there to help our businesses along because, ultimately, we don't want to see any of our businesses fail. We want to see them thrive, start and thrive, and get them out of the garages, for an idea that starts from birth to see them succeed later on. That's what the ultimate goal is. Anyway, my next question is: has the GNWT looked at programs such as the 8(a) Program or similar programs as a model that could be followed here in the Northwest Territories?
I had the opportunity to review the materials around the 8(a) Program that comes out of the United States, and I can't say that that program has been looked at as a model for the Northwest Territories. I do want to assure the Member that ITI does look at best practices that come from across Canada in terms of how we are supporting local business and will continue to do so.
Again, thank you for that response. Okay. Switching gears a little bit, will the GNWT set a goal or a target to increase government contracts for Indigenous business?
I think that is a very good idea, but I am not at the point yet where I can say for sure whether or not that will be the outcome of the procurement review that is under way, or about to be under way, I suppose. Again, I think I have already committed in the House that the idea of developing and Indigenous procurement strategy is something that I will commit to. Whether that includes a specific target or not, again, that is but one of many good ideas that I think are coming from the dialogues that we're having in this session on this topic.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Again, thank you for that response. At least we'll get that dialogue going. Like I said, we want to make sure we get as much juice for our squeeze for our businesses and business community. My last question: in my riding, in order for a new business in Ndilo, Detah, Deninu Kue, or Lutselk'e, to compete on government contracts, what supports are there for the businesses in my riding? Marsi cho.
There are business supports that ITI does have in terms of providing business mentorship. The Business Mentoring Program run through ITI has been, in fact, oversubscribed for the last two years, so I think that speaks to its success. I certainly would plug that program. There are certainly funding supports through ITI, for example, with the SEED Program that can help businesses as they are getting started. Then, of course, in terms of accessing contracting, there are the existing programs under BIP, for instance, that can help businesses gain access to government procurement, and there are certainly supports through procurement shared services in terms of helping businesses navigate the procurement process.
There are a lot of ways the government is trying to support and help businesses, but I'm going to put in one more plug: there is also the fact that we are going to continue to review those processes. It's been a long time since there has been a full review, so we're going to review them and make sure that they're doing the best that they can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.
