Mr. Speaker, I have a follow up to an Oral Question asked by the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake on February 27, 2025, regarding the Climate Change Action Plan. The Member also asked for additional information regarding the amount spent on contractors located in the NWT and the amount spent on southern-based contractors.
In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, ECC spent $3,465,000 on the NWT Climate Change Action plan. This included $2,517,000 in salaries and compensation, $378,000 in grants and contributions and $570,000 operations and maintenance, of which $486,461 was in contracting. This does not include expenditures for other GNWT departments working on climate change initiatives.
Mr. Speaker, from the amount spent on contracting, $88,000 was spent on northern businesses and $398,000 was spent on southern-based businesses. Many of the climate change-related contracts require specializations that are not available in the North. For example, Lidar, a remote sensing method that creates 3D models of landscapes used to inform infrastructure and permafrost mapping actions, can only be conducted by southern contractors. Additionally, an open Request For Proposals process selected a southern contractor with significant experience working in the NWT to conduct the independent evaluation of the Climate Change Strategic Framework.
The Department follows the GNWT Business Incentive Policy and makes every effort to support Northern and Canadian businesses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
