Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We rolled this program out earlier this year and to date; we haven’t had any issues with the recycling program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The procurement process allows for the BIP that’s supplied on to contracts in the Northwest Territories, and that is supplied through the Public Works and Services when it’s put out to tender and that’s how the bids are adjusted accordingly. Southern bidders do not qualify for northern content or the BIP process and the northern people do.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The short answer is no, as this was put out as a tendered process and it goes through procurement and they do their business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled “Connecting Us: Four-Year Action Plan.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Upon implementing the recycling of electronics earlier this year, we have an advisory group that’s going to sit down within the one-year period of this implementation. They will be reviewing the policy and bringing recommendations back to the department, which we can share with the Members.

As I’ve said, the Public Works put out the tender; there’s a BIP process that’s applied to all tenders of these bids. If the southern contractor states that they’re going to have 60 per cent that the Member has alluded to in part of their bidding contract that has nothing to do with the BIP process of this contract. We can follow up with the Member and have a discussion on the number that he’s talking about, but Public Works and Services applies the numbers to the tender process.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled “2015 Northwest Territories Environmental Audit.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member stated he’s asked us in the last session, and at that particular time I believe I answered him that during the reconstruction phase of certain sections of the highway that some of the signage was down from the previous construction season and we’d be reinstalling it. I would have to follow up with the department and see where that section of highway is at on that. As far as the rest of the section of highway, we have routine maintenance and inspections of the highway and if the Member has any particular areas of concern I would gladly look into it for him...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I’ve said, there’s four test sections on this highway; most of it’s related to degradation of permafrost. Also, as the Minister responsible for Climate Change this is a serious problem that we’re going to be facing and we are facing right across the Northwest Territories. It’s a challenge. As any government moving forward, us as the 18th Assembly, 19th, and 20th Assembly, are going to be facing if climate change isn’t brought under control, so it’s something that the Assembly as a whole is going to have to work towards. It’s going to cost a lot of money for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has a 25-year transportation strategy, which we are continually reviewing. We review all the north and south sections of the Northwest Territories. We do these on an annual basis, and we have a long-term plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.