Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This House has debated and put in place a responsible policy that allows for negotiated contracts. It was created to “lead to benefits for businesses or residents which could not reasonably be expected to be achieved through competitive contracting, or contribute to the creation, growth and competitive capacity of Northwest Territories-based businesses.” This policy has regularly been applied in appropriate cases across the NWT, with major benefits accruing to our residents and businesses.
A couple of my colleagues have questioned the application of this policy for the Giant Mine bypass road through the Chief Drygeese territory. Rather than attacking the policy, they have attacked this application. This to me is wrong-headed, achieves little and ignores the benefits the policy was intended to create.
A negotiated contract with Det’on Cho means our NWT tax dollars will stay in the NWT economy. Det’on Cho has invested $10 million – all spent locally – to purchase equipment that will be used on the Giant Mine road realignment. It’s mounted major training programs locally to ensure people are ready and able to get to work. That training, in fact, paid off with an 85 percent Aboriginal hiring rate on the successful Detah road project, which has only been partially funded to date.
The negotiated contract for a small portion of the Detah road was completed on time and on budget, with the participation of an array of locally owned subcontractors. Thanks to that contract, Det’on Cho now has a start on equipment, staff, experience and business partnerships to deliver a cost effective and quality realignment of the trail through Giant Mine.
For the Yellowknives First Nation owners of Det’on Cho, the highway realignment is also part of the long overdue remediation of the environmental disaster inflicted on Akaitcho lands.
Over the years the Yellowknives Dene have lost use and occupation of traditional lands and have suffered the introduction of poisons into the environment they rely upon and cherish. They have not had the opportunity to participate in the development of industry capacity which exists today. The Giant bypass project begins to address some of this harm, by promoting the prosperity of those who have been most affected.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
The Negotiated Contracts Policy exists for good reasons, and I’m glad we’ve put it to good use here. If there are problems with the policy, let’s have a discussion, but let’s not wait until the policy happens to be applied in our own backyard to speak out on it.
I look forward to the successful completion of the contract negotiations and the flow of benefits to our local economy that will result. I will have questions for the Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
