Caroline Wawzonek

Yes, absolutely. Early on in the process of becoming a Minister, this is a policy that I wanted to have reviewed to understand better, and I agree. It is, as I said, a tool that can be utilized. It should be utilized towards the goal of being a representative work force, and if it's going to be a tool, then it should be better understood. I would certainly commit to bringing the concerns forward, but what's more, I will commit to looking for a way that we can make its use more transparent so that it is more understood how it actually works. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It certainly does.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 22-19(2), I wish to table the following two documents: " Summary of GNWT Response to Dominion Diamond Mines Creditor Protection Process and Ekati Diamond Mine Sale;" and "Outstanding Payments Dominion Diamond Group of Companies/Arctic Canadian Diamond Company as of February 3, 2021."

As well, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents: "Executive Summary - Public Procurement Policies for the Government of the Northwest Territories;" "Discussion Paper for the Review of Public Procurement Policies for the Government...

Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that, as we focus this sitting on the government's budget, including how GNWT spending impacts the NWT economy and the role it can play in our economic recovery efforts, we are also beginning a territory-wide conversation about our government's procurement practices and policies. Procurement is a significant tool that can positively increase the benefits of government spending on the private sector and, as a result, on the economy as a whole.

Ensuring that government procurement and contracting maximizes benefits to residents and businesses is a priority established...

That comment stood out to me, as well, and so certainly, again, that's one of the points of getting together with the department, is to identify where, in fact, there may be some areas for immediate work. It's not only us, of course. Up here, we also do rely on the federal government for part of the regulatory processes, and as for us, it's not only ITI that is responsible; the Departments of ENR and Lands are also involved. What I will do, as I've said, is, firstly, have the meeting with my department to look at what exactly is it that is at issue and then ensure that we are bringing all of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are quite a lot of initiatives underway. One of them that I think I have spoken to recently would be in terms of the Mining Incentive Program. That is a program that is within the government's mandate to increase funding to, and funding was increased and modified to adapt to COVID-19 so that it could be better accessed and more useful for those who are having to adapt their systems and their processes to continue to explore, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, there is a wide variety of other initiatives underway. Not knowing quite...

At this point, that one, I am going to take back and say I will get back to the Member on it. I know there was some initial anticipation of what might get out there with respect to, for instance, the vital statistics and various health information. Again, subject to how the framework has unfolded and subject to the application of that framework to the technology that is now landed on as being useful, I would like to confirm if, in fact, we are still going to proceed with the vital statistics and health information first or not. That was always the intention.

Mr. Speaker, the open government portal has been delayed somewhat. I had been hoping we'd be further along at this point and have some more information moving forward onto the portal. I can say at this point that, at least now, we do have the technology ready to roll out that will be implemented. What they are working on next is a data management framework. I acknowledge, and I must say, that the number of steps required to ensure that data is managed properly insofar as both being a collective of all of the different items of data and high data usages across different departments but also in...

It turns out that today, in fact, the tourism development officer from the South Slave is meeting with the SAO from Enterprise. I will personally follow up so that I can see what transpired in that meeting and will communicate with my colleague the MLA to let him know also what transpired at that meeting and to hopefully advance whatever projects might be discussed and whatever ideas might be discussed.

With respect to the campground contracts, those do go through a procurement process. I will follow up with the MLA to ensure that he is aware and that the SAO in the community is aware when...

Our 2021-2022 capital budget is over $500 million, including a budget for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation; in 2020-2021, our capital spend was already $293 million, so money is getting out the door. There were some challenges last year, no doubt, with COVID and some of the challenges that would have imposed in terms of supply, in terms of exemptions for people moving in and around the territory. The capital budget we have now is significant. All departments are very conscious of the fact that, number one, we need our infrastructure to grow and, number two, we want to support...