Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When I left off my question before on the Inuvik schools — this is just to recap — Mr. Miltenberger said that the authority was signed off by then Premier Joe Handley. That was in support of the negotiated contract, but the actual appropriation of funds to the Financial Management Board was signed off by the then Finance Minister, Mr. Roland. Then, when there was a discrepancy or difference, I guess, between the original project that would have been signed on by FMB and the current project, was there need for any subsequent approvals by Cabinet or FMB with respect to...

Thank you. When the price of the project changed, was there a subsequent approval process or signing off of any record of decision required?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m not sure there’s anything else I can say about the need at the Diamond Jenness Secondary School. I think this motion says it. We have devoted an extensive amount of airtime to the issues at Diamond Jenness over the past few days. So with that, I’m going to ask for a recorded vote on this motion.

So just to be clear, then, it wouldn’t be normal for that same MLA to be signing in their capacity, whatever role they play in Cabinet, on that same contract. That would not be within keeping of the policy that Mr. Miltenberger has outlined.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To the motion. I’ll be supporting this motion. I think that this particular project, coming up the way it did with no substantiation, no compelling reason why this needs to be built, is just another example of this government’s pathetic planning.

I guess it pays to be the Premier, you know? I guess $150 million in your home community when other communities are getting nothing…. And you come up with lame reasons to push back capital in other people’s communities in another region. We find pathetic reasons to push it back. But, boy, bring a $21 million project on the...

Thank you. Who was the signatory to that sign-off by FMB?

I move that this committee defer further consideration of the activity Education and Culture under the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Capital Estimates 2009–2010, on pages 7-7 and 7-8 at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My questions are going to continue today on the area of the negotiated contract for the Inuvik schools replacement and also, I guess, follow up somewhat on the questions I was asking in the House today that the Premier answered.

In question period a few days ago I asked the Minister of Education if the contract had been awarded for the Inuvik schools replacement. I was told that it had been. Later on in Committee of the Whole, upon further questioning actually, I found out that it was a letter of award and it wasn’t the actual contract that had been signed.

I want to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that these capital projects come in phases and that appropriations are voted in various years related to the work that will be done in that fiscal year. However, I am concerned that a letter equivalent to a letter of award was offered to a construction company, Dowland construction, without the appropriation having been voted on in this House. That is still before us today; that appropriation under the Department of ECE is still before us today. So I’m concerned about the timing and the process. Whose authority it was under that that letter was sent is important...

Mr. Speaker, obviously I don’t have access to those letters of support. I have seen a list of the people who did provide letters of support, but I haven’t seen those letters of support.

I would like to know if the Premier would be prepared to make those letters of support available to this House and to the Members. Also, did the letter of support from the Gwich’in include anything about receiving part of the work that would be associated with this negotiated contract? It’s my understanding that Dowland Contracting is 51 per cent owned by the Inuvialuit, and it is also my understanding that...