As the GNWT reviews its procurement policy for awarding government contracts, it will have seven recommendations to ponder from the NWT and Nunavut Construction Association.

Those proposals include better monitoring, enforcement and application of the Business Incentive Policy (BIP); excluding non-resident, grandfathered companies as NWT businesses; increasing the impact of the BIP; improving communication on GNWT construction projects; adopting industry standard construction contract language; raising safety standards on GNWT construction projects; and creating an Indigenous procurement policy, similar to what exists in Nunavut and Yukon.

In addition, construction companies across the territory are still confronting some of the same longstanding issues that have dogged them for years, according to Matt Belliveau, the associations’ executive director.

Finding skilled workers and local people who can fill various roles remain chief among the barriers within the Northern construction industry, he said.

Pre-trades courses that members of the industry are offering alongside territorial governments, Indigenous organizations and other partners are aiming to address that need by informing residents of the career choices available, said Belliveau.

In the legislative assembly on Feb. 26, Hay River South MLA Rocky Simpson sought assurances from Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek that Northern businesses will be given preference and “every opportunity” to participate in projects during the 2021 construction season.

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