Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a followup to my statement this morning on the Supreme Court of Canada decision on Indigenous child welfare, I'd like to ask the Premier, Mr. Speaker, what is the Premier's plan to ensure the principles of the Supreme Court's decisions are upheld?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, given the statement that the Premier just made, I only have one other question, Mr. Speaker. Will this government be issuing an apology to the Indigenous government it fought in court?

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this morning, the Supreme Court of Canada released its longawaited decision on Indigenous child welfare. As many in this Chamber know, the previous GNWT governments saw fit to challenge in court the rights of Indigenous governments to take care of their own children.

Mr. Speaker, despite being encouraged by lawyers in the region to withdraw their challenge, the previous government persisted, continuing that fight at the Supreme Court. Today, the GNWT lost that fight, and rightly so. Today, the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the right of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then I'll just do one final one. Will the GNWT evaluate the outcomes of the current negotiated contracts policy to ensure that it achieves the intention to support the development of the Indigenous business policy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm a little nervous; I want to make sure I get this right.

Mr. Speaker, as a followup to my Member's statement on Indigenous procurement, I'd like to ask the Premier if he can make the approach to the Indigenous procurement policy publicly available? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move the chair rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And certainly I appreciate the Premier has a lot of issues in his portfolio. But I will ask, and something else to add to that wrap, I guess, is that has the GNWT established a definition of Indigenous businesses for the purposes of the policy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the 19th Legislative Assembly committed to ensuring that government procurement maximizes benefits for the NWT residents and businesses. In order to fulfill this commitment, in December of 2020 the GNWT hired an independent panel to provide recommendations to strengthen GNWT procurement policies. This independent panel conducted public consultation, engaged with stakeholders, and reviewed years of contract data.

Mr. Speaker, on August 2023 the GNWT responded to this panel review report with a report on the review of GNWT procurement policies and practices...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker,

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment:

The Member for Frame Lake, Julian Morse;

The Member for Great Slave, Kate Reid;

The Member for Mackenzie Delta, George Nerysoo;

The Member for Sahtu, Daniel McNeely;

The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Robert Hawkins; and,

The Member for Yellowknife North, Shauna Morgan.

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be appointed as alternate Members:

The Member for Deh Cho, Sheryl Yakeleya;

The Member for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, February the 9th, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations:

The Member for Frame Lake, Julian Morse;

The Member for Great Slave, Kate Reid;

The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Denny Rodgers;

The Member for Monfwi, Jane Weyallon Armstrong;

The Member for Tu NedheWiilideh, Richard Edjericon; and,

The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Robert Hawkins.

And further, that the following Members...