Floyd Roland

This government is very open to input as we develop the business plans of departments. We sit down with Members on the capital program. They are aware of the process. They know that for every year we put a capital plan together, there are many projects that litter that capital planning floor and we don’t have the resources to make it all happen.

Mr. Speaker, what we are putting in place in our communities is not something that should be discarded in a matter of just making a statement to say we don’t do anything. In fact, the capital plan, how we do business, shows we are working with...

The contract I believe was issued under ECE and I’ll have to get that detail to him.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that response was tabled in this Assembly, our response to the Auditor General’s report, on the initiatives we would undertake to deal with those issues. As well, in remarking to other questions earlier this week, the Financial Administration Act is being reviewed and out of that can flow further changes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is now not a rookie anymore. He’s been around this Assembly long enough and he’s been digging up information for quite some time and making strong suggestions out there or language that we can get on and debate and challenge each other on. He’s not satisfied with the information we’ve given him. There was no schmooze fest, as the Member is suggesting. Contracts were in place; meetings did occur, and a number of them. He’s not satisfied with the information we’ve given him. I am sorry he’s not satisfied, but I don’t know if there’s anything I can...

I believe it was representatives of the Department of ITI as well as ECE. But we can get that information as well.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That portion of the work was an RFP.

Mr. Speaker, in many forms of contracting, best price isn’t necessarily the best work that you want to get. Especially in the critical days of a government coming into power, it wants to ensure that the information it is collecting, the position it is preparing for in meetings, in opening some of those doors, each person can bring their own unique qualities to the table. For example, with our establishing a relationship with the federal government that’s in place, that requires a unique set of capacity and capabilities, and we received that.

When it comes to dealing with industry, as well as...

Mr. Speaker, the contracts that we have in place that we put together so that we can position ourselves when it comes to discussions with either the federal government or industry, at times, are necessary and in place, and we use that, different departments use those as well, and we do have documentation on those. In some areas the documentation is provided directly to and short form to appropriate Ministers. Thank you.

I will provide a note to Members about both the special events funding. It’s $75,000 a year; $5,000 per application for each regional aboriginal government organization to help offset costs for holding special events such as general assemblies or special assemblies and celebrations that mark milestone anniversaries of settled agreements, for example.

Also part of that fund is $1,000 in support to community-based aboriginal organizations and that’s band councils, Metis locals, community corporations, Native Women’s Association, to help celebrate National Aboriginal Day. We have a list of how...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the second question first, being the title of the position of Premier versus Government Leader. It is a symbolic one, the most recent letter I received from the Prime Minister recognized the position as Premier and we say that is a significant move, just on that piece alone. Further to that, if we were to request a change, that would still require the NWT Act to be opened up and we think there is, as we go forward and talk about self-governments, talk about the changing relationship and the changing nature of the Northwest Territories, there will be a time when a...