David Ramsay

I appreciate the Member’s concerns; however, I don’t share those concerns. I believe we can move forward with an Economic Opportunities Strategy that’s going to benefit every region across the Northwest Territories and find new ways for us to grow the economy, especially in the smaller communities, and that’s what we’re going to start out to do. Thank you.

We have a number of folks involved in the Economic Opportunities Strategy, including the Northern Aboriginal Business Association, the NWT Chamber of Commerce, the NWT Association of Communities. We have an expert panel that’s set up, as well as the department. We’re not setting out to conduct this Economic Opportunities Strategy without talking to people. We’ve been out to a number of communities already. We’re looking for feedback from residents around the Northwest Territories.

I know the Member mentioned big business in his opening statement. This isn’t all about big business, Mr. Speaker...

Through the Inuvialuit settlement, the land claim agreement that the Inuvialuit have, they have provisions for granular royalties paid to the Inuvialuit. That is something that is in the land claim. That is something that we continue to look at negotiating, both the royalty rate and the land tenure for the highway itself. Those discussions continue to be ongoing.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the public’s consumption, there’s the EIRB report that was out on the 25th of January. We’re waiting for funding approvals and project approvals through the federal government. We look forward to getting those in due course. There’s a process that has to be followed and we intend to follow the process.

As I mentioned earlier, NGOs could certainly have a commercial aspect, a commercial arm to their operation, and that is a component of their operation that could become BIP registered. Then those benefits the Member talks about are apparent.

I think, again, it is a grey area. It’s the first that I’ve heard of this situation coming up, and it’s certainly something I look forward to discussing with the Member and the Regular Members opposite, to try and find a way forward with it so that everybody knows what the rules of engagement are when it comes to tenders and NGOs and BIP registered...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member brings up kind of a grey area here. An NGO could certainly apply for BIP status if it has a business arm. The reason an NGO itself cannot become BIP registered is… There are a number of reasons. First, they don’t pay taxes, or they don’t pay income tax. They usually receive significant government funding through other contribution programs. They often receive other government-based incentives ranging from free rent on a building or pay zero through tax assessments and often receive cash donations sometimes significant in nature. Also, they often receive non...

The North has always been criticized for having too much red tape, government’s getting in the way of business. We believe that the regulatory regime that is in place is going to protect the environment. This is a stand-alone strategy. It focuses on growing the economy here in the Northwest Territories and we should let it do just that. Focus on economic development here in the NWT. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we would have to take a look at the policy in its entirety. There are businesses on paper that would look like they are northern but they’re not really northern. I’ve had examples brought to my attention on that. If we’re going to take a look at the policy, we should do that. It should be wholesale. A lot of companies have been grandfathered into the Business Incentive Policy. If it’s the will of this House to look at the Business Incentive Policy to make it stronger, to strengthen it, to ensure that you have to have property here in the Northwest Territories, you have to employ...

In talking to industry and to the department, we certainly understand that communication is key to the operation of the winter road in the Mackenzie Valley. I think there were a number of lessons learned this winter and this season. This season isn’t quite over but as we get into next season, I think a meeting, a readiness session on the use of the Mackenzie Valley winter road is certainly something we can look forward to helping undertake. Also, again, I think we need to continue that work with industry. I think there’s going to be even more activity taking place next winter, so the more...

I believe the policy does protect northern businesses. That’s what it’s intended for. Unfortunately, again, there are anomalies; there are situations where things happen. Again, if we want to get into a review to strengthen the Business Incentive Policy, that’s something that I want to work with the Members on the other side to see that, so they have some comfort that the policy is there to do what it is intended to do, and that is protect northern business.

We have what is called a Senior Management Preference Committee which oversees the policy and does review matters that come up that are...