Michael McLeod

Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure what the Member is asking me. I’m not clear on the question. All I can say is that this process has a number of checks and balances put in place so we ensure that there’s fairness and so that we can explain the fairness.

Obviously, the Member has been contacted by one of the proponents. We have not even debriefed any of the companies yet. I would ask that the process continue to move forward, that we talk to the company who has obviously contacted the Member and show where maybe the proposal was not quite up to what was expected or where he could improve, or whatever...

Mr. Speaker, I guess we have to give a two-part answer to that. If things don’t pan out the way we anticipated or if we don’t have a positive outcome in the final stages of our request for proposals, we may have to go back to the drawing board. But if everything goes well and it ends up that a contract is awarded, we’ll have that proceed this summer.

Mr. Speaker, it’s not a matter of coming around to discuss and provide information. This contract procurement is still in the process. I’m very reluctant to speak to something that has ongoing negotiations.

We’ve done exactly as the Member suggested: we have hired an outside party to ensure that fairness of procedure and practice is followed. I would be glad to offer that to the Member once the contract is awarded, to provide a full briefing so that he can see how this contract unfolded and how it was evaluated. We have a process where I have to respond and go to my cabinet colleagues before...

Mr. Speaker, maybe we're not on the same page. We haven't issued a contract yet. We certainly agree to go back and review it once we decide if there's going to be a contract issued. With no contract yet issued, it would be a worthless exercise.

The Member is asking for my opinion; I’d be glad to share it. In my opinion, anything that would enhance the issue of encouraging volunteerism or providing support to volunteerism, I would be in support of.

Mr. Speaker, I'll have to repeat my answer. There was no contract awarded. We are still in negotiations. I can't respond to the Member’s question.

Mr. Speaker, we do a lot of work in the area of volunteering and volunteerism. Historically, we have worked very closely with Volunteer NWT. The decision of the federal government to pull the financing has made it very difficult for that organization. They are looking at ways to acquire some support and have had contact with us.

We have had a lot of discussion around that issue, looking at ways to maybe find outside sources or within our own government to help them. But we do, as the Member indicated, provide the volunteer awards program. We also provide through our department the Fire Service...

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to announce that nominations are being sought for the 2008 N.W.T. Outstanding Volunteer Awards. This program was developed in 1991 as a way to celebrate outstanding volunteers in the Northwest Territories and to highlight the importance of volunteers to Northwest Territories residents.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, in partnership with Volunteer NWT, is pleased to support this important initiative and jointly invite all residents to nominate that special volunteer in their community.

Volunteers are the key building blocks of healthy communities and...

Mr. Speaker, the question, of course, is hypothetical. The Member is asking me for information that may influence the outcome of our negotiations, and I can’t respond to that.

Mr. Speaker, the only person pretending here is the Member. He’s pretending not to hear my answers.

Laughter.