Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The process we’re undergoing is budget preparations, as well as trying to look at cost effectiveness of programs. A number of initiatives we’ve started. The issue of subsidies is one we’ve looked at for quite a number of years. The total package ranges over $100 million, when you look at all the areas of housing, fuel subsidy and income support.

In the short term I’d say we have to look at the fact that we do limit the impact or stabilize the cost of living in many of our small and remote communities. Without that subsidy, the cost would go extremely higher. Our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following documents entitled Ministerial Benefits Policy and Report Respecting Benefits Paid to Ministers Under the Ministerial Benefits Policy for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2008.

Document 108-16(2), Ministerial Benefits Policy, tabled.

Document 109-16(2), Report Respecting Benefits Paid to Ministers Under the Ministerial Benefits Policy for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2008, tabled.

Mr. Speaker, once again, the process has been followed. All the steps we normally do, whether it’s this negotiated contract, negotiated contracts in other communities or other schools.... The process has been followed in this area. The deputy minister has that ability to send awards out. It is conditional, as was stated in Committee of the Whole, I believe. An award is conditional on them meeting their conditions as well as this Assembly passing the infrastructure plan.

Mr. Speaker, the letters of support I believe would be in the package. If they aren’t, we will ensure that Members get that. In fact, as the department goes through the process of finalizing the contract process, I understand that they are targeting about 90 per cent to fall within northern contractors. So that is one of the reasons the negotiation process is available for projects in the Northwest Territories.

This project has been delayed since the events that happened with the Perry Building facility. There are limited amounts of space in the community, whether it’s one office or two offices, but not enough to properly run the departments, as we have been through — for example, the situation with the Perry Building. As well, we have a number of older assets in the community that are being used right now, and we’re either going to have to invest in fixing up the older properties we own or go into a newer facility to replace the space we lost with the closure of two floors in the Perry Building.

Agai...

There’s been a lot of work done in this area already. One, looking at the fact that we’ve had to move people out of an existing space, we’ve got to make up that shortfall. The department has notified all those who have leased space with the Government of the Northwest Territories in their community that we are not shortening our leases and we’re not removing people out of that leased space.

We’re going to accommodate that, out of a number of our own older buildings that we have, as well as those staff who were moved out of an existing space that fell into some safety concerns.

The confirmation...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The discussion about this capital plan that’s before the House has now turned directly to a line of questioning about the credibility of a Member of Cabinet and the process. Questions about the conflict of interest process letters are better held at another table if we’re going to go and see an overall piece. That’s the Legislative Assembly as a whole, not just Cabinet, who would deal with that piece of it.

I would say, Mr. Chairman, that again, with this line of questioning, under 23(i), I believe it is, the motive is being planted. I know the Member himself has stated...

Mr. Speaker, this process and many of the questions that are being asked were asked early on as this went through the infrastructure acquisition plan that’s before Members. This project here, as awarded…. There are a number of phases that were awarded. First was the site development, and that is a northern company that is doing that work.

The issue with the construction company, which has now had an offer put in front of them…. But it is conditional, as was laid out through there. I haven’t seen the Member’s legal opinion, and we’d have to have a look at that if they are prepared to share that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The process of the negotiated contract policy that the government holds is one that has been put in front of aboriginal organizations and governments for their review and consultation with us, and some amendments have taken place. That policy has been on the books for quite a number of years. When the issue of the negotiated contracts comes up, that is when the claims are very specific. If we are going to negotiate a contract, then we have to go to the aboriginal organization that is in the area. In this case, both organizations, the Inuvialuit and Gwich’in, provided...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through that process information was provided to Members on the leased space that’s out there in the community. Again, 93 per cent of the office space in Inuvik is leased with a number of companies in the North or in the community as well. As I stated earlier, the department has notified those companies that we are not moving people out of that space. We’re replacing existing space that was used and some of our older facilities that are owned by the Government of the Northwest Territories.