Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member’s statement, I have some questions for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier please explain the criteria that is used when deciding who will get a negotiated contract? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The factors that are considered when authorizing contract negotiations are set out in the publicly posted Negotiated Contracts Policy and they include costs, the benefits that might be achieved for Northwest Territories residents, support from local leaders, the contractor’s ability and history with the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the possibility that other qualified Northwest Territories businesses might be interested in competing on the contract. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Premier for his answers. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier please advise if the policy factors in impact, such as income support, social issues in the community, employment, to name a few, when deciding if the department or Executive Council will or will not support a negotiated contract?
Local employment is always a factor when considering negotiated contracts but not at any costs, Mr. Speaker. We also have rules that govern our business incentive policies and our northern preference policies. The Member referred to the Inuvik Tuk Highway. In that case, there was the benefits and jobs are available, 600 jobs a year, 80 per cent provided by Northerners for Northerners.
I again thank the Premier for his answer, and I totally agree that the Inuvik Tuk Highway did a great job. As the Premier spoke, there’s 600 people being employed. You know, that is what we need to be doing, 80 per cent Northerners, which is great. However, Mr. Speaker, in regards in the Negotiated Contracts Policy, can the Premier advise this House when the last time this policy was reviewed and updated?
It’s a requirement of our government to post the results of our Negotiated Contracts Policy on an annual basis, and, as such, the Negotiated Contracts Policy is reviewed on an annual basis. It was last reviewed in the fall of 2015.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier for his answer. Can the Premier explain to this House who was involved in reviewing this policy? Was it just the Cabinet or was it the whole Legislative Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Negotiated Contracts Policy will be reviewed again in the fall of 2016, and the results will be shared with the standing committee. We will involve the standing committees. As per land claims agreements, one of the requirements is under economic measures; we have responsibility to also engage the community governments, so we do that in a normal course of events, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
