Debates of May 17, 2007 (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation and it’s with regard to the current practice of the Housing Corporation when it comes to having new houses built in communities where they’ve moved over to what they call commodity packaging and it has to be for all the communities on the road system. If you want to bid, you have to bid on all the windows for the houses in all the communities or the doors or the framing as opposed to supply and build in the community. In my community of Fort Smith, it puts the local building supplier at a distinct disadvantage in competing against the large companies like Igloo which now has its main plant and factory in Edmonton. I just wanted to ask the Premier, is there any flexibility or ways that there will be a more level playing field as it was in the old days, even when it was supply and erect? The building supplier had access to bidding through the local contractors. In this case, they are cut out of the opportunity because they are not big enough to compete. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 108-15(6): Contracts For Housing Construction Materials

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation, over the years, has gone to great expense to try to deliver the housing in a way that is affordable, but is also done so that northern businesses have maximum opportunity to benefit from it. That’s why in some cases we do the supply, ship and erect where it’s all to one person. In some cases, it’s labour only and we supply the material and in other cases, it’s a combination of those.

Mr. Speaker, I am open to looking at how we do this in a way that is going to meet those smaller companies the Member is referring to that can’t compete with the big companies yet want to benefit from this and do it in a way that keeps the price affordable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 108-15(6): Contracts For Housing Construction Materials

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Premier indicate how he would see or be able to deal with this circumstance? Would it be a case of the building supply owner to contact the president or what would the Premier suggest? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 108-15(6): Contracts For Housing Construction Materials

Mr. Speaker, I haven’t had the opportunity to discuss this at any great extent yet with the president, but I will. I would certainly encourage the company involved to talk to the president and see if there is another creative way of doing this. It may be that there are enough units, for example, in a community that we could look at a different way of doing it where a local established business would be able to put in a reasonable price. Mr. Speaker, I would commit to speaking with the president and ask the company concerned to also do the same. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.