Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my statement, my question today is to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment on trade barriers.
First, given that the healthcare services face barriers equivalent to a 40 percent tariff, what concrete cost savings can the GNWT or Members of the Northwest Territories expect to realize from eliminating these trade barriers? Mahsi.
Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Minister of ITA.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for continuing to keep the conversation around internal trade barriers alive and well in this House. Much appreciated.
So, Mr. Speaker, last year we had really an unprecedented year as far as focus on internal trade barriers across this country. That included health care, of course. And often really what we saw was due to duplication in licensing and regulatory requirements of different supplies. That's where those real cost increases were coming. Last year we ended up with a 30 percent reduction in party-specific exceptions across the country. We signed the Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement on goods excluding food and also mutual recognition initiatives in sectors like trucking as well. And so all of these play an impact on the cost of goods here in the Northwest Territories. Whether that's through nursing staff and being able to access people from across the country as we sometimes do. Whether that is trucking supplies across the country or even things like first aid kits, if first aid kits have to be different in one jurisdiction to the next. So at this point we're not ready yet as a country to say what the specific dollar figure is at this stage, but this work continues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that reply. We're really trying to get down to the cost savings to residents and capitalize on this opportunity.
My second question, Mr. Speaker, is what measurable progress and specific outcomes, benefits, can we expect from the committee on internal trades 2025 negotiations as we move into 2026 particularly regarding services liberation? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, my previous response I alluded to some of those. So that was the reduction in the party-specific exceptions, the Canada Mutual Recognition Agreement that was signed across the country on goods. There was also the labour mobility laws that were imposed in other jurisdictions. And that has an impact here in the Northwest Territories because a lot of times we are relying on the capacities of other jurisdictions to do some of our regulating of professions here in the Northwest Territories.
We also saw the successful conclusion of the financial services negotiation under the Canada Free Trade Agreement, Mr. Speaker, and this has an impact of allowing financial institutions across the country to work more seamlessly across Canada, reducing duplicative regulatory requirements, access to insurance, or increasing and improving access to insurance, as well as financing options for northern businesses, as well as increasing competition, which we know ultimately brings costs down across the country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of ITA. Final supplementary. Member from the Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I approach my last question, I want to compliment our Minister on the chairing of this national committee.
What is the GNWT's timeline for implementing the labour mobility action plan's 30-day services standard and which sectors will be prioritized for barrier reduction to maximize economic benefits for the residents and businesses of the Northwest Territories? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for his kindness.
So, Mr. Speaker, we did have the chair position for 2025. We have happily passed it along to Nunavut for 2026. But we are ensuring that that momentum continues as a national team. We are going to see, as far as the 30-day service standard, work continue on that one here in the Northwest Territories as I alluded to previously as well. We rely on other jurisdictions in order to see some of those realized, but we also do have some regulatory bodies here in the Northwest Territories so we as a government are working closely with them. And that includes processes for -- standardizing processes for applications, including standardized documentation requirement and faster verification tools as well and making sure that we're aligning with the entire country on that through our regulatory bodies.
In addition, our federation of FMM -- first Ministers meeting. Thank you very much, Mr. Premier. We speak a little bit sometimes too much in acronyms, and I -- anyway, so we are still being directed by FMM, first Ministers, as far as maintaining the momentum at that table and ensuring that we're focused on things that do make a difference to Canadians. And with 2026, we're focusing and narrowing in on what services we can provide some consistency and standardization to across the country. Thank you.
Oral questions. Member from the Dehcho.
