Shane Thompson

I thank the Minister for that answer and it’s good to hear that. Mr. Speaker, in speaking with some of the residents and youths that recycle bottles because they receive a refund from the deposit they make during the purchase of the items, can the Speaker advise if the department has any plans in the future to provide any refunds for recycling electronics?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for the education about the BIP process. I totally understand the BIP process; what I’m asking for the Minister to explain how the department guarantees, when Southern company says they’re going to put 60 per cent of the cost to Northerners so the money is vested back into the communities, how does the department guarantee as part of the bid or contract when they sign it, because that’s what they bid on, is adhered to? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of the department hasn’t spoken to these companies I’m not sure how we saved $2 million by going to a public tender process. To me, if it’s a negotiated contract you work out a price, but he didn’t do that so we can’t really say that we saved $2 million. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how we saved $2 million with this project going out to a public tender?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to take this opportunity to speak about an organization in Fort Simpson that has a huge impact in the arts, culture, and entertainment community across the North. I’ve had the opportunity to witness this organization grow from its first breath some 16 years ago to where it is today. Open Sky Society has a long history in Fort Simpson in Nahendeh. Open Sky will be hosting its 16th Annual Open Sky Festival this July. This event brings multiple benefits to the village of Fort Simpson and the businesses in the region. The festival is a tourist draw and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of the extended operating hours for MV Lafferty ferry. Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 153 handwritten signatures of Northwest Territories residents and three electronic signatures of Northwest Territories and Canadian residents. Mr. Speaker, the petitioners request that the Department of Transportation extend the operating hours of the MV Lafferty ferry to 6:00 a.m. to midnight daily without creating a service break in the afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I won’t try to ask you the question this time. I’ll ask the question to the Minister responsible for ENR. I thank the Minister for that answer and I’m very happy to hear that there is a committee. Can the Minister actually advise the committee that there is some of these issues out there that people are looking at, the electronics that has, you know, getting a refund, so we can get all the electronics out of our dumps and into a proper recycling process? This will be my final question.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the NWTAC 50th Annual General Meeting, the staff of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources did a presentation and a question and answer session. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise the House if they are encountering any challenges in implanting the GNWT’s Electronics Recycling Program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again I thank the Minister for his answer. They’ll be a lot of stuff coming from his office or his department in the future I hope, and I thank him for that. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding as part of the BIP process, southern companies make commitments to have a certain percentage of northern content. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how the department ensures that that percentage of the bid is adhered to?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister just give an update on the low-bed trailer and loader for Fort Simpson? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I again thank the Premier for his answer, and I totally agree that the Inuvik Tuk Highway did a great job. As the Premier spoke, there’s 600 people being employed. You know, that is what we need to be doing, 80 per cent Northerners, which is great. However, Mr. Speaker, in regards in the Negotiated Contracts Policy, can the Premier advise this House when the last time this policy was reviewed and updated?