I wasn’t sure what part of the yes was part of the answer. The issue really is infrastructure projects under the Government of the Northwest Territories. If they go over time or over budget, the construction groups that usually develop those projects are the ones that get the bad rap. I think they can be part of the solution. I just want to make sure, when we look at this aspect of timing, from design to implementation and development of these infrastructure projects, that these groups are included.

If the Minister could just make it clear that, before any policy is set in stone, he will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of our problems with our capital projects is that they quite often will go over budget and run over the time schedule. Some of the things that have been identified are making amendments to our policies and trying to figure out how to run it a little more efficiently and certainly spend better dollars. I’d like to ask the Minister of Public Works and Services: have they done any work on developing a policy to meet that end?

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize a friend, Steven Veness. He’s up there with Tricia Melanderford.

I give notice that on Thursday, June 19, 2008, I will move the following motion.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommend that the government cease considering the elimination of the Business Incentive Policy, and further, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommend that the government consider and undertake public discussion on options to revise the policy to better direct it to the benefit of businesses who file their taxes in the North.

Would the Premier take steps to work toward enacting a home-rule law? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We don’t need to recognize any differences, because this territory should have equal standing with every other province, and anyone who’s negotiating down from that would be selling us out. The fact is that the best solution would be an act to describe our position in Canada which is full partnership. When John A. Macdonald went out with his crew to negotiate with Britain about Canada having its own autonomy, it didn’t take 30 or 40 years like this devolution agreement. Even those folks who signed the Constitution and were branded as traitors in the United States were later regaled as heroes...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During my Member’s statement I talked about home rule as an initiative that could be launched by this territory to demonstrate that our rightful place deserves to be taken within Canada.

My questions go to the Premier of this House. Would the Premier move forward on an initiative that demonstrates that the territorial government is in charge of its own affairs by moving forward on home rule legislation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A basic theme in the history of Ireland through the centuries of English dominance was the desire for control over its domestic affairs. Home rule constantly refers to the demands for greater self-government within a central government.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has been struggling with the federal government to complete the full transfer of decisionmaking powers since the ’70s. We keep insisting on the need for greater local control and accountability by Northerners for decisions that will affect our future.

Early on we made some progress with devolution of education and...

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to Item 5 on our agenda, which is recognition of visitors in the gallery.

I’d like to table a letter. It is to the honourable Minister responsible for Education, Jackson Lafferty, dated May 14, 2008. It’s a letter sent by the chair of the Yellowknife Catholic Schools, Mary Vane, regarding their opposition to the deletion of the Alberta Achievement Testing Program.

Document 65-16(2), Letter to Minister of Education Opposing the Deletion of the Alberta Achievement Tests, tabled.