Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Committee, we’ll go to general comments on Bill 55. General comments. Mr. Dolynny.

Does committee also agree that we’ll take it in groups of 20?

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Mr. Minister, do you have witnesses you’d like to bring into the House?

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, committee. We’ll start with Bill 55, Mental Health Act. Committee has agreed to consider Bill 55, Mental Health Act. I’ll go to the Minister responsible for opening remarks. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Abernethy.

We’re not being unreasonable here. We know there are several companies that supply trucks to the Northwest Territories. We have no problem with other companies bidding truck versus truck, but we need that work done in the Northwest Territories. Currently, some of the bids that are going forward are 51 percent over a $200,000 project; 51 percent is labour, construction, welding in the Northwest Territories, with the one contractor. With the other contractor, that work is being done in Ontario and in Quebec.

Is the Minister committed to making companies required to do the work in the North?

Thank you, Ms. DeLancey. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I was speaking of business and some of the issues that I have had with the GNWT over the last four years. My questions today are for the Minister of ITI. I’m dealing with a client for the Business Incentive Policy and getting them BIP’d, and it’s specific to the plow trucks that Transportation continues to buy and we’ve tried to get King Manufacturing BIP’d for that project.

Can the Minister indicate to me why the application for King Manufacturing for plow trucks was denied this year?

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Minister Abernethy.