Daryl Dolynny

We’ll turn your attention to discussions on review of Bill 3. With that, we’ll go to the proponent of Bill 3, Premier McLeod, for the opening comments.

To the bill as a whole.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We are now introducing another leg of this tool here, which is this protocol. So my question is: The protocol that is being discussed here today, is that protocol itself legally binding for a formal review of legislation to take place? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Premier McLeod.

To the bill as a whole.

Clauses 81 to 90.

---Clauses 81 through 90 inclusive approved

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, what we’re hearing here is that there’s nothing preventing us from discussing that here today, which I think is important. I think this is what we’ve heard from a number of stakeholders in the Northwest Territories.

I guess I’ll ask another question here. What safeguards do we, as the Legislature, or do we, as the public that we represent, have that there will be a review of this legislation, let’s say, within the next five years? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Premier McLeod. Mr. Fulford.

Mr. Speaker, the negotiated and sole-source contract policies were designed years ago when there were all but a handful of Aboriginal companies and they wanted to build capacity in the Northwest Territories. Today we have well over 500 with the same mandate.

Can the Minister indicate to the House why the government has not tried to modernize this policy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to address the detailed reports in the tabled report on the GNWT contracts over $5,000 in the 2012-2013 budget year and the response to my written questions received on February 25, 2014, by the Minister of Finance.

I have said on more than one occasion that we are dealing with an antiquated, outdated and ultimately unconstitutional negotiating and sole-source contracting policy with this government. It’s abundantly clear that the taxpayers are holding the bag in its shortfalls.

I have always said the devil is in the details. With that in mind, let’s examine...