GNWT announces the release of independent procurement report

Press Release

September 29, 2021

Today the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) released the Report of the Procurement Review Panel providing recommendations for GNWT’s procurement policies and practices.

Produced by an independent three-person panel, the report provides 50 procurement recommendations, incorporating input collected over a four-month period from public engagements with stakeholders including industry groups, business communities and residents.

The panel’s recommendations have been grouped into four themes:

1.           Establish a strategic approach to procurement;

2.           Increase procurement opportunities and impact for NWT residents and businesses;

3.           Make it easier to do business with the GNWT; and

4.           Create greater capacity to support effective and strategic procurement.

The GNWT will review, evaluate, and further research the panel’s recommendations, using the report to guide further engagements.

The next phase of the procurement review process includes working with Modern Treaty and Self-Government Partners and Indigenous Governments to better understand their interests and perspectives with respect to treaty commitments and government to government relationships.

Quote(s)

“Government procurement and contracting serves as a great source of economic activity throughout the territory and residents should benefit from this as much as possible. I want to thank the panel for the full breadth of recommendations provided in the report, and I look forward to working closely with our key partners for their insight on creating a unified made-in-the-NWT procurement approach that ensures maximum benefit to our residents and communities.”

-Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Finance; Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment

Quick facts

• During the course of the review, the panel held 32 external engagement sessions and met with 103 participants. They also obtained written submissions from 11 individuals and organizations and received comments through an online discussion page hosted by the GNWT.
• The three-person independent panel included: Leslie Anderson, a career expert in public procurement; Peter Vician, an NWT-based facilitator knowledgeable and experienced in the NWT’s government and economic environments; and Darrell Beaulieu, a respected member of the NWT’s Indigenous business community.
• The GNWT has commitments in the economic measures chapters in the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, Sahtu Dene Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, and Tłı̨chǫ Agreement, including a requirement to consult with them “when developing modifications to its preferential contracting policies, procedures and approaches”.
• GNWT procurement policies have not been substantially updated since 2010.

Related links

• Report link
• GNWT Procurement Review: Meet the independent panel that will guide the conversation
• A Discussion Paper for the Review of Public Procurement Policies

For media requests, please contact:

Jacqueline McKinnon

Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment

Government of the Northwest Territories

jacqueline_mckinnon@gov.nt.ca

767-9202 x 63039

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