February 1, 2021
On Wednesday the Minister of ITI launched an independent review of the GNWT’s procurement policies and practices.
Review of Government Procurement Launched
Minister Wawzonek has put a panel in place to serve act as an independent and objective third party in this review - and to help foster the kind of meaningful and, at times perhaps, difficult conversations that we need to have.
Blog GNWT Procurement Review: Meet the independent panel that will guide the conversation
The panel needs to hear real accountings of people’s experiences with government procurement: both positive and otherwise. They want to know of specific instances when the system did or didn’t work; and innovative ideas – based on real examples – that could make the GNWT’s procurement process better.
The panel will hold four public engagements.
Photo Credit: Shutter Stock
If you are thinking about participating, here are five questions to get you started:
- What should the primary purpose of preferential procurement be? Is it to offset the higher cost of doing business in the NWT; to encourage investment in the NWT and bring jobs to the territory; to help reduce the cost of living?
- What principles should underpin a GNWT procurement policy?
- Should the GNWT should pay more for goods and services if they are provided by a NWT business? If so, how much more?
- When it comes to being eligible for preferential procurement, how would you define an NWT business? Should non-resident or “grandfathered” companies continue to be eligible under the BIP?
- How can the GNWT strengthen the relationship between GNWT procurement and contracting personnel and NWT businesses?
The first public engagement session is scheduled for this Thursday night. If you would like to be a part of it, here’s what you need to do:
- Send an e-mail to Procurement_Review@gov.nt.ca(link sends e-mail)
- In your e-mail, tell us who you are and how we can contact you (providing both an e-mail address and phone number.)
You will receive a confirmation e-mail from the panel providing additional instructions on how you can be a part of this important NWT-wide conversation.