Brendan Bell

Mr. Speaker, we have been down this road a number of times. I think past governments’ experience would tell you that tinkering with the BIP is not the answer. Let’s either be done with it and recognize that it is not relevant anymore, and we will consult businesses to find out if, in fact, that is their feeling, or let’s leave it as is. But if we start to make changes to this, we can undertake a great deal of consultation. I can assure the Member there are ways businesses want to be creative and find a way, if they are motivated, to work around the regulations. You are going to have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is something we've been in discussion with committee about. Governance and Economic Development committee was floated the idea first, initially, and they were at least intrigued enough with the idea to suggest that we needed to get out and talk to businesses and get their sense. The premise, Mr. Speaker, really is that the BIP, which was created a number of years ago, we think is not as useful as it once was, not as effective as it once was. It really speaks only to GNWT procurement. I think the last numbers we had, on $200 million worth of procurement, there...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We can certainly provide updates. We do have a working group with the RCMP and Justice officials talking about the provision of service to small communities. There are, I think, 13 communities in the NWT without detachments. The Member is right; the days of single-officer detachments are gone, so we have to be more creative and look at ways that we can provide service to some of our smaller communities. Probably the smallest ones we will be hard pressed to ever see detachments, or for awhile anyway, because of cost pressures in the smallest detachments. But I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I think even probably before we start talking about the federal government, I'd be interested in making sure hunters and trappers are involved in this discussion because this is part of their livelihood and I think very important for them. DOT does plan to sit down with MACA; I mentioned that. They are going to bring in the RCMP, municipal enforcement, coroner's office, the chief medical officer, other snowmobile associations. They think they can have this group up and running by the end of the month, or next month. If we need the federal government involved...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, there are already laws on the roads and there are laws in municipalities. Enforcement, obviously, is a problem, very difficult, and there are more and more snow machines out there. So it's something that we can have some discussion around. But the Member is right; it crosses a number of jurisdictions: ours and municipal. I think the most important thing is to get out there and make sure people recognize the dangers. I'm not sure especially young people have a good sense of exactly how powerful these machines are and how much at risk they can be when they're...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, different communities have different crime rates. How active community justice committees are really does tend to depend on the willingness of the community, the local RCMP to divert to these community justice committees. I think the community has to be comfortable with that approach. You mentioned the YCJA and the new philosophy. In the transition from the old Young Offenders Act, that has played an important role. But, Mr. Speaker, I am not suggesting that keeping our facilities adequate and up to date reduces the crime rate, but it is part of the overall...

Mr. Speaker, no. What the Member is asking me to do is to put in place some sort of change to the BIP that would require immense auditing, policing, would add to the regulatory burden. What we would be asking small businesses to do is essentially share private tax filing information with us. I am not even sure we have the ability to do that. I could consult with the Minister of Finance, but you are adding layers of complexity, bureaucratic red tape, and I can assure the Member that is not what small business wants. What we have to do is find a way to help small business be more...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For specific procurement concerns that are taken up by departments, arm's length agencies or boards, you would have to speak to the Minister involved in that, Mr. Speaker. Of course, we run the contract registry which provides the information. We think it has added a real element of transparency. I think the Member would appreciate that. The kind of information he has at his fingertips allows us to go back and look at procurement practices. That is what we are doing.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business, after surveying NWT businesses, came up with a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take the concerns about the provision of health services back to my department for discussions with health officials. Obviously, the Minister of Health has heard the concerns, and that's something that I'm prepared to have a discussion with him about. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't tell the Member if in fact the RCMP officers have already taken up their posts in Gameti. I do understand they will be serviced and will be from the Yellowknife detachment, and it will be on a roving basis. So a number of different officers will be involved. Obviously the communities had some concerns about access to the community, increased alcohol in the community, and drugs, because of the winter road. This is something that the RCMP agreed that they would try this year and see how it goes. The idea was to really keep the presence in the community for...