Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, I am going to talk about negotiated contracts. In my research, there has been over 180 negotiated contracts, over $5,000 for the timeframe of 2010 to 2015. This worked out to be just over $508 million. Mr. Speaker, the negotiated contracts policy was introduced during the 12th Assembly. The goal is to improve opportunities for emerging northern businesses to benefit from government contracts and ensuring the maximum of capital investment stays in the local community. Mr. Speaker, in this House we heard about the great benefits of the negotiated...

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?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member’s statement, I have some questions for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier please explain the criteria that is used when deciding who will get a negotiated contract? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that answer. It’s good news. I can, hopefully, and it will work well for the designated communities. Who will be paying for the courses? Is it going to be similar to the School of Community Government, or will there be funding available from the department to access these courses? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d just like to build on the questions Mr. Nadli talked about. You’ve probably heard my Members’ statements to some of the issues we’ve had. Has the department been able to work with INAC on fixing up potential training opportunities for the communities and address this? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that answer, and I fully agree that we need to get people trained. I’m just a little confused about how communities can take the $40,000, apply for it, and then bank it to purchase equipment later on. Because we’re talking about building capacity in this area, so I’m just trying to understand how that is possible. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I have no problem not doing a report, but I guess my struggle is that, if we have these concerns and issues out there and we still haven’t implemented them, then have things been implemented, part of this report? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just one follow-up on this. Will we be looking at it this year or next year with the legislative change? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess I might have missed something, but what report is the Minister talking about and referencing? Thank you, Mr. Chair.