Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Negotiated contracts such as that proposed for Det’on Cho Corporation to realign Highway No. 4 play a critical role in the Northwest Territories. The Negotiated Contracts Policy is intended to lead to benefits which could not reasonably be expected through competitive processes which maximizes economic benefits for NWT residents and businesses, provides training and development opportunities, and supports the development of self-sustaining local and regional businesses. That sounds to me like a checklist of the merits of the Det’on Cho negotiated contract proposal for Highway No. 4. Det’ on Cho has proven its capacity in the initial Detah road contract, where it achieved a 70 percent Aboriginal hiring rate. The firm delivers projects safely, on time, on budget and well below costs of comparable contract arrangements.
Its achievement of the policy objective for development of skilled local tradespersons and the continued provision of training opportunities has been nothing less than outstanding.
There is more to this, though. The highway realignment around Giant Mine is part of the long overdue remediation of the environmental disaster inflicted on Akaitcho lands. Over the years, the Yellowknives Dene have suffered lost use and occupation of traditional lands, loss of hunting and trapping range, debasement of water quality and fish stocks and the introduction of toxic poisons into the environment they rely upon and cherish. Each of these created high costs and the need for equally costly alternatives to these people. The Highway No. 4 realignment project provides the Yellowknives Dene an opportunity to recoup a modicum of these costs through economic growth based upon their savvy and initiative.
As the Transportation Minister said last week, negotiated contracts are intended to keep the benefits of GNWT spending in local economies, backing Det’ on Cho actions to that principle.
I urge the Minister of Transportation to argue strongly with his Cabinet colleagues for a positive decision on granting this negotiated contract. The negotiated contract route thoroughly promotes and upholds the policy principles while to some degree redressing the significant cultural and economic loss from the degradation of Akaitcho traditional lands. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
