Debates of October 26, 2004 (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to follow up on the questions that I had for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation earlier. Mr. Speaker, if I understood him correctly, he indicated that in fact the Housing Corporation lifted the BIP waiver. The waiver that they fought so hard for; they being Mr. McLeod and Mr. Bell. They told us the world will end if they didn’t get it this way, now the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation for the first time just now enlightened us that he, in fact, lifted that waiver for the subcontractors. To the same question, in the last answer he gave earlier, he said he can’t go with the local contractors in the NWT because it’s too expensive. So I want to know if he’s treating subcontractors in communities differently than businesses in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 312-15(3): Treatment Of Contractors In Market Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d just like to clarify the Member’s question. The waiver of the BIP was on the site development phase of the project, so it was for the set-up costs of the units in the communities and the transportation costs. The BIP was waived to ensure that portion of the contract would benefit the North. That decision was made in May. With regard to the construction, the labour, the equipment materials for site work setup, that portion was waived to ensure that we received as much benefit as we could for that aspect. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 312-15(3): Treatment Of Contractors In Market Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So could the Minister clarify exactly who, where, what subcontractors was BIP applied to? He indicated earlier that he wanted to make sure that 50 percent of the business stayed in the North, so they were entitled to BIP. But apparently the business that puts mobile homes together in Yellowknife, the Housing Corporation can’t afford. So I want to know exactly who got the benefit of BIP. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 312-15(3): Treatment Of Contractors In Market Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the benefit was for the whole Northwest Territories on this one. The people in the communities benefit by way of employment, job opportunities and assisting the business community. We may see a downturn with regard to activity in our communities. So there is benefit to the local community and the Northwest Territories. Also, with regard to the notion that communities are benefiting over Yellowknife on this one, I don’t believe that’s the case. This is an initiative that has put some 60 beds into communities which weren’t there before. The way I look at it, this is a benefit for all northerners. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 312-15(3): Treatment Of Contractors In Market Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate his superfluous statement and principle about benefiting everybody in the North, but the Minister did not answer my question. I need to know who got the benefit of BIP. The Minister just indicated earlier that he reinstated BIP for subcontractors. I want to know who those businesses are or at least what work they performed.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 312-15(3): Treatment Of Contractors In Market Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to this contract, I think the contract that was let for the trailers was a tender process that was separate from the worksite phase of this project. But because the activity was going to take place in the communities, that’s where the tenders were let. So that’s basically where the benefit was. Mr. Speaker, out of this project, almost 59 percent of the total cost of the project stayed in the North and also benefited communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 312-15(3): Treatment Of Contractors In Market Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I need to know where the 59 percent that stayed in the North are located. Are they all in the communities, or is any of it in Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 312-15(3): Treatment Of Contractors In Market Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the trailers that went to the communities benefited those communities. There are no trailers in Yellowknife, so the benefit went directly to those communities.