Wally Schumann

Our territory has considerable petroleum potential, and we have committed in our mandate to deliver a long-term strategy and capitalize on these reserves. With that said, though, this isn't an isolated initiative. It directly links to the important work we are doing as a government in the Northwest Territories. We have the energy strategy, the climate change strategic framework, and we are moving all three initiatives together. This is a shared vision that we have to work towards the new energy climate change strategic framework going forward, and the initiatives that we've signed on to. We...

Yes, those are two exactly that I have raised. It's funny that he's mentioned the secondary diamond industry. As we all know, Almod Diamonds have purchased the one site out on Airport Road, and the issue they are having right now around getting that up and running is through Immigration Canada and how long it takes, and I'm referring back to that. As far as other industries, I have not talked to anyone else about "Is there an opportunity to do this?" The business side of it is for new investment dollars for businesses in the Northwest Territories. I get the Member's point around if we're not...

If we go based on the number that is always thrown around, attracting 2,000 immigrants to the Northwest Territories, if you put ECE's file and mine together, we are nowhere near the 2,000 number. We are working diligently to try to improve that. Myself and the department have had conversations about how we can approach the business stream of things and how we can maybe change things up to attract more people into the Northwest Territories. The department is working very hard on this initiative by launching a new website, working to streamline the process and make it simpler, and these sorts of...

Mr. Speaker, the Mackenzie River is our marine highway to the Arctic Ocean. A reliable shipping route for generations, the Mackenzie River is the northernmost link of an intermodal supply chain that stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Beaufort Sea and beyond.

2017 marked the year that the Government of the Northwest Territories assumed responsibility for scheduled tug and barge services to our communities on Great Slave Lake, the Mackenzie River, and the Arctic coast. In 2017, the Government of the Northwest Territories Marine Transportation Services Division registered and reactivated six...

When we bring our strategy forward and table it in the House here shortly, it recognizes that we have to address the needs of climate change. That is the first priority of this government. Also, we've got to take in the current political environment around what we consider moving this forward with the knowledge economy as such, and what advantages does it ensure residents of the NWT. I can reassure the Member for sure, in the strategy when we table it, there is going to be a focus of using local energy for local use. That is one of them, but we still have to have a long-term strategy going...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right. Last year was the last time we supported them, but moving through this business cycle, we have no plans on providing funding to APG.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a conversation that I have not had with the department. If the fee is a hindrance to the people moving here, I will take that up with the department and get back to the Member if that's a possibility of having a look at that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The latest numbers that I have in front of me here, I will read them out so everyone can hear them:

Arrived in NWT for operating businesses, we had four applicants, for a total investment of $1.2 million;

Signed a BPA and awaiting arrival in NWT is 10 applicants, for $3.9 million;

Submitted application for the Northwest Territories Nominee Program's staffing analysis is one, for $300,000; and

Received an invitation to apply and staff awaiting applicants is seven, for $2.3 million.

A total of 22, with a total investment of almost $8 million. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Any concerns that are brought forward to me by any Members of this Legislative Assembly or members of the public are valid, and we sit and listen to them, and my door is always open. As to the comment about having procurement issues in the GNWT and that our policies and procedures are wrong, I totally disagree with the Member. Our department is here to adhere to the policies that are in this Legislative Assembly; it's here to support businesses and, at the same time, protect the GNWT's investment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can't control if the Member wants to bring a private Member's bill forward. I have said we have recognized this. We have reached out to the Northern Construction Association. We are monitoring what Ontario is doing. The federal government is pushing theirs through their House.

As far as progress payments go, that is a totally different issue than prompt payment. Progress payment seems to be an issue around the manufacturers' goods. We are coming forward with a manufacturers' strategy, a "what we heard" document. If that is an issue in those documents, then we will sit down and have that...