Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister of Finance for some… Actually, I had a constituent that works for First Nations in my riding and that constituent actually came to Yellowknife and rented a hotel room, but wasn’t able to get a government rate. She had asked why we don’t get a First Nations rate.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance how the government gets a government rate at hotels here in the Northwest Territories or throughout Canada.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a process based on volume, large organizations, governments, corporations, traditionally go to airlines, in some cases they go to hotels, and they negotiate these types of rates that are accessible and a benefit to folks when they are travelling and in some cases with government, even when you’re just travelling on your own, if you’re an employee you can also use the fact that you’re a government employee. So that’s a negotiated arrangement with the different hotel chains and motel chains in some cases.
I guess the point I was making and failed to say was the First Nations, thereby First Nations government in our Northwest Territories and throughout the Northwest Territories we, of course, respect our First Nations partners and governments. How can we work with the hotel associations or our government to ensure they are included and get a good corporate rate, because they’re flying into Yellowknife and travelling throughout Canada, as well, to conduct their business just as we are.
I understand that in some cases the Aboriginal governments, the Dene Nation or other Aboriginal governments would negotiate their own rate, be it with airlines or with hotels where they are patrons on a steady basis, or in some cases, up north where they actually buy and own the hotels, they have that advantage. If the Member is suggesting that we somehow partner up, I’d be glad to get the information and review the issue with Finance and the Member to see what’s possible in terms of that kind of arrangement. I don’t know if there’s any kind of group rate that the First Nations or Aboriginal governments could be included in, but I’d be willing to commit to talk to Finance and the Member about that.
I certainly look forward to that information. As well, some of our small communities, too, are technically a municipal government as well. Can he also look into that aspect of it as well?
I’ll commit that we look at all levels of government: municipal, Aboriginal, as well as territorial.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
