Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the word "procurement" has been mentioned over 500 times in this House in the life of this Assembly, which is more than the previous two Assemblies.
Through conversations about procurement, we have advocated for increased northern procurement benefit retention, economic reconciliation, improved procurement transparency, and a general change in procurement accessibility. As elected leaders, we have all committed to making procurement improvements as requested by all Northerners.
In September 2021, the procurement review panel published its findings and 50 recommendations. According to the panel, this review provides the GNWT with an historic opportunity to establish a solid foundation for the strategic use of procurement and take full control of the opportunities to leverage public contracting to support economic and social objectives in the Northwest Territories.
This past fall, the GNWT tabled a work plan with a single table divided into four deliverable categories:
Administrative updates to make it easier to do business with the GNWT;
Actions to improve government procurements;
Transparency and accountability; and,
Efforts to increase the benefits of government procurement for Indigenous and NWT businesses.
But that is literally the extent of the work plan's detail.
Mr. Speaker, this work plan does not give certainty of whether or not the procurement review of the 19th Assembly will affect change or fall short of resident and northern business expectations.
In response to questions about the outcomes of the procurement review, this House has been told that, quote, "the work is underway, and we need to wait and see how it unfolds."
Mr. Speaker, we have limited time left in the life of this Assembly, and this Assembly needs the opportunity to review, question, and hold the government accountable to changes to the GNWT procurement policies. And as a Regular Member, I need the opportunity to advocate for the people and entrepreneurs I serve and ensure their voices, experience, and time given during the panel review are respected. NWT businesses continue to question why their businesses continue to operate north of 60 when significant contract dollars go south to where the cost of doing business is more affordable, and population decreases show that a significant number of Northerners are heading south. Northerners need certainty. Regular Members cannot continue to wait and see how long the work of the procurement review unfolds. This government needs to finalize this work and deliver it, along with certainty, to NWT residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
