Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mentioned in my statement that I discussed P3 projects, and it is extremely important, in my view, that we be adequately prepared for P3 projects more and more as we go forward with our infrastructure plans. We’re going to need partners to provide us with the financial assistance in order to get these projects done. A perfect example is that cited by Mr. Bromley in his statement earlier today.
I’d like to ask the Premier — or he can refer it to whichever Minister is the appropriate one; I’m not quite sure — to explain where a P3 policy sits on the priority list for this government and for the Premier and Cabinet.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We place in a high priority area, as the Member has pointed out, the fact that we have to look at other avenues of dealing with some of the larger initiatives that we are looking at within the Northwest Territories. I committed to having the P3 policy review put in place. Deputies met a number of months ago. In fact, I’ve had meetings as well and invited a firm to come up North to sit down with us to begin looking at a P3 process.
I thank the Premier for that answer. I was going to ask him where we were at, but he’s already answered my question — and good for him.
I guess I would just like him to confirm that currently we do not have a document in place that outlines the process that would be followed for a P3. It sounds to me as though it is in the works, so I’d like him just to confirm that.
Mr. Speaker, we do have a policy. It is a very old policy. We recognize that. We’re looking at other jurisdictions for policies they’ve put in place, and that’s why the review is going forward. We will have deputies meeting again on this later on this month. As I’ve stated, I’ve also invited a firm that has much experience in this area to sit down with us to look at development in this area.
Thank you to the Minister. I’d like to know if he can give me any kind of an idea of the timeline of when this process will be done and when we will have a revised, renewed and revitalized policy in place.
Mr. Speaker, we’re trying to, as I stated earlier, go through this initial process. Any policy work we would do we would bring to committee for review and testing if, in fact, we’re heading in the right direction. We’re hoping we’ll be able to bring something forward during this winter. I don’t know if we’d call it the winter session, but at that point, we’ll try to bring something forward to Members for review.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks for the answer. I think I heard the Minister say he’s going to look for input from Regular Members. I guess I would like to have him formally commit to or to formalize his answer that, yes, he will ask for input from Regular Members in terms of this particular policy for P3 projects.
Mr. Speaker, we will do that as we do with any policy work. If we’re to change it, we’ll work with the appropriate committee to have input and give us feedback. So we will be doing that, yes.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
