Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I grow increasingly concerned that the procurement review is never going to end, Mr. Speaker, and I don't mean in a good way, that will continue to review our policy and make sure we are improving procurement for the residents. I mean that we will never actually complete it and change the policies that define GNWT procurement. And this isn't just a suspicion, Mr. Speaker. In the GNWT's own work plan, they say by the end of this Assembly they will identify potential policy mechanisms to support enhanced Indigenous procurement. Mr. Speaker, what this should read is that we will create an Indigenous procurement policy with set out targets by the end of this Assembly.
I do not know whether we will have an Indigenous procurement policy in this Assembly or the next, Mr. Speaker. I do not know whether our P3 policy will be amended. I do not know whether we will create a consolidated purchasing policy as recommended by the procurement review. We say we are going to finally make changes to the definition of a northern business in the business incentive policy by the end of this government, Mr. Speaker. Well, time is ticking to get that policy through Cabinet approvals. I have not seen that, Mr. Speaker, so certainly not enough time for Regular MLAs' feedback.
Additionally, Mr. Speaker, there was recommendations for targets for negotiated contracts. There were recommendations that the GNWT consider its approach to leasing. I have repeatedly asked in this House to change the leasing of improved real property policy from 1998, Mr. Speaker, and what I'm told is that we have to wait for the procurement review to be done. But the procurement review work plan makes absolutely no mention of leasing. So why am I being told that that has to be done when it's not doing anything to do with leasing, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Speaker, at this point, this government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on procurement all while talking about how we're going to improve procurement but not actually changing the policies. These are executive level policies; they take time to get through Cabinet - I get that. But let's get them done before this Assembly is done and put a bow on procurement so we can end this review once and for all. I'll have questions for the Minister of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
