Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Today, I would like to speak in Tlicho, but my interpretation is not coming across clearly, so I am going to do this in English. [Translation ends] [Microphone not turned on] ...at the last Assembly. It's a vital part of North Slave's highway lifeline to the rest of the territory and also the South. It's 50 years old and badly aging. Mr. Speaker, five months ago, I asked the Minister of Infrastructure in this Chamber about the status. The proposal was submitted at that time. Has it been submitted to date with the federal government? If yes, when was it submitted? Masi.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have started discussions again with the federal government about the funding on the Frank Channel Bridge. As part of the COVID relief, the federal government's infrastructure stream is being allowed to have more flexibility within it. One hundred percent funding is one of the options. As well, we will be allowed to do the municipal infrastructure projects in schools and things.
Not super specific to the bridge. However, the bridge would fall under that funding, and we have had lots of conversations with the federal ministers about the fact that infrastructure projects are what is needed in the Northwest Territories to keep the economy going and keep our businesses running. We are very optimistic that we will get the funding soon for the bridge. I do believe that the actual submission is in. I will confirm that, though, and get that back to you. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Before we continue, we will just do a test on interpretation, make sure everybody's hearing well. No? Just maybe continue with the question and see how everybody's gauging it. Thank you.
I understand that the Tlicho Government is in full support to replace the Frank Channel Bridge and submitted a letter to your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister of Infrastructure. Of course, they requested a sole-source contract or a negotiated contract on the bridge, which is situated in the heart of the Tlicho land. Has that been shared with the federal government as part of the Chapter 26 of the Tlicho Agreement on economic measures, the possibility of either negotiated contract or sole-source contract as part of the Tlicho constitution?
I will look at you this time. The discussion around the Frank Channel Bridge within my department is very much about how we keep the Tlicho involvement in that. We are definitely having conversations about negotiated contracts on the Tlicho bridge -- sorry. There we go, giving it away. The Frank Channel Bridge. We recognize going forward that this could be a great opportunity to have Tlicho people employed and Tlicho people trained. Significant training would be part of what I would want to see in any negotiated contract. I do not want lip service, and I do not want to have a situation where I have the Member for Monfwi asking me why an American company is now operating in his area. I am well aware. His points have been taken, and we are definitely having that conversation with the federal government.
Thank you Minister. I would like to ask the Member if he could speak in Tlicho so we could see how Members are -- I could hear clearly. I am not sure if anybody else can. Thank you. Member for Monfwi
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Chapter 26 of the Tlicho Agreement strictly lays out the process between the Tlicho government, GNWT, and the federal government on any economic development in the Mowhi Gogha De Niitaee area, in which the Frank Channel Bridge is located. Section 26.3.3(8)(b) activities on Tlicho land will not be public tendered. Is the Minister of GNWT contracting fully aware of such agreement? Can I get a guarantee from this Minister and GNWT as a whole to bring this to the attention of the federal government and make them aware of Tlicho Agreement? [Translation ends]
[Microphone turned off] ...I apologize, but it's just that last bit of the question. I definitely would commit to having this conversation with the federal government about having the Tlicho involvement from the start. Once we have that funding, that conversation is going to begin with the Tlicho government. I made a promise to those chiefs, and I made a promise at roundup in front of those chiefs of what I was going to be doing with my department to ensure that Northerners worked and that we built meaningful Indigenous businesses out of that. I still stand behind that commitment, and I commit that again today that, when we have that funding in hand, we will have arm-in-arm in partnership with the Tlicho.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] The question is on Chapter 26 and is it [Translation ends] ...highly encouraged. Also the Minister if she can accept to conduct extensive training or workshop within her Department of Infrastructure to get familiar with the Tlicho constitution. Chapter 26 clearly highlights it in the subsections. One of the subsections, obviously, states out that, within any activities on Tlicho land, there shall not be any public tenders. The federal government is part of that agreement. They should be aware of it, too, but we have the onus on our GNWT departments. Can the Minister commit to having an extensive workshop or training for the senior staff so they are fully aware of our agreement? Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I can commit to that. I also wanted to state that one of the conversations that I'm having with my deputy minister at this point is that I want to see a creation of an engagement unit within Infrastructure to deal with these exact types of situations and not have that be a tack-on, add-on to the project manager's or the technical project manager's role. While it's very preliminary, I would then also welcome your input on how you would like to see that unit get formed. That is my plan, that is what I've conveyed to my deputy minister, and we're going to start doing engagement better in the Department of Infrastructure. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, before we continue, we're really running short on time, here. Just to let everyone know to keep their questions short, and same with the answers, please. If you can, get straight to the answer. I know we have a lot of Members yet who want to ask questions and we are only on number four now, so just a reminder. Also, it's kind of challenging, but kind of talk slower so the interpreters can catch what you're saying, as well. Thank you. With that, we'll continue on with oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
