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 contract for the Inuvik to Tuk Highway. These are two strong regional companies, one from Inuvik and one from Tuk, that were able to successfully get this contract, I totally agree with the government doing the negotiated contract process. The money stays in the North where it can be reinvested. There is local employment and training. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, recently a request from my riding was turned down. As I tried to figure out what was happening, I was told it was a political decision, and I should not take it personally. Well, Mr. Speaker, I do take it personally. This type of decision has a huge impact on the small communities I represent. These contracts mean local employment. This means that people who want to work get the opportunity. As well, there could be the opportunity to be trained, as it was on the Inuvik Tuk Highway. Mr. Speaker, it is very sad to have men and women come to me and ask why the company was not even given the opportunity to negotiate the contract, and they see folks from outside their community working in their town. Later today, I will have questions for the Premier. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Kam Lake.
