Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ITI because I know she really likes policy and procedure. Mr. Speaker, ITI's SEED Policy described market disruption as circumstances when, in the opinion of the regional superintendent, the granting of a contribution will likely adversely and significantly impact the revenue earned by another business within the region. This definition, plus the duty of the regional superintendent under Section 7.4(c), make it clear that the authority to determine market disruption falls to ITI's regional superintendents, and that this authority is discretionary. What I'm wondering, Mr. Speaker, is: will the Minister instruct her senior management team in ITI not to apply the market disruption clause for the existing NWT businesses seeking SEED funding for the 2021 fiscal year so that NWT entrepreneurs can creatively evolve and expand their businesses in response to COVID-19? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought I'd have an easy answer there, and then I heard "2021," and I'm not able to make that commitment on the floor right now. As I've said, for the moment, when the SEED Policy had been retooled to accommodate and to respond to COVID-19, the market disruption clause has been waived for the current fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, I can assure the Member that we are going to be looking at that, given where we're at and if the pandemic continues to be ongoing and, in fact, continues to be fairly disruptive in the southern regions. I will certainly commit to looking at that and see if we can extend the existing change. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Can the Minister then confirm for me that no SEED applications have been denied this fiscal year due to market disruption?
It's my understanding that that is the intention. I don't have the numbers in front of me. I will make sure and get that confirmation and share it with the Member.
If the Minister does find an application within their files that has been denied because of market disruption, will the Minister have her senior management team, specifically, look at that application, re-evaluate it against their intentions for the SEED application for this fiscal year?
I can definitely commit that, if there is such an application that was denied on the basis of market disruption after such time as that announcement was made, that we will be looking at it again and ensure that it does meet the intentions as they have been stated and retooled to meet to COVID-19.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am satisfied with the Minister's response.
Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
