Bob McLeod

Mr. Speaker, as a government, we are not averse to incorporating the best practices that are out there. That was the reason we approached the Yukon government, because they are seen as having one of the best diversity programs. I would expect that we would have been aware of that program. I will find out where we are at in terms of applying for money through that program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories Economic Review and Outlook, January 2011. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s no connection between these bids and the land use framework that we are developing as a government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we would be prepared to provide the Member with some information as to what the issues would be with proceeding with what the Member is proposing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we are quite prepared to do that analysis. I should mention that the Business Incentive Policy was set up to provide a level playing field for northern businesses that invest in the North and have their offices and their workforce and buildings in the North, to give them a level playing field with southern contractors. That is the primary purpose of the Business Incentive Policy. With regards to providing incentives to small communities versus other northern communities, that is not the primary purpose, but we are prepared to do the analysis and provide the Member with our...

Thank you. I think the implications are quite significant. Our Premier has spoken to the Prime Minister’s office and a number of federal Ministers as well, so have several Ministers on this side. What we indicated is that with the signing of the devolution AIP, that we have to be involved in these kinds of decisions that affect lands and resources and we are asking that we develop transitional arrangements so that we are part and parcel of these decisions that will affect us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We, too, see it as very good news, the fact that 11 land parcels were put up for bid. But I also want to advise the Member that our government had no prior notification or input or advance notice that these bids were going forward and although we are aware of it now, we are preparing for the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline and, as we’ve said many times, the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline will be a basin-opening project for the Northwest Territories, and in due course you’ll see more money spent on exploration than spent on the pipeline itself. So we have a Mackenzie Valley Pipeline...

Mr. Speaker, if there is an indication from the Members here that it’s something that we should do, we would be prepared to do that. Right now we haven’t had any indication that this is something that the majority of Members want us to do. I would be prepared to put that forward as part of the transitional arrangements with the next Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We see a priority for this government to try to get as much of our expenditures into the smaller communities. We have a number of tools that we use to try to do that. Obviously, we use the Business Incentive Policy. Of course, we have a Negotiated Contract Policy to allow us to do that, but I would be very pleased to go back to the department and find out whether contracts are making it to local businesses in the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Establishment of parks doesn’t happen overnight and it’s a fairly formalized process that has about an eight-step process. A letter would start the process and I expect that with the support of the Aboriginal governments and with devolution, we could move that a lot faster than the existing system. Thank you.