Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On all northern tenders the Business Incentive Policy is applied equally. There is a 15 per cent preference for northern businesses over southern businesses to equalize the higher cost of doing business in the Northwest Territories. There is also a five per cent preference given to local businesses to equalize doing business in a small community compared to a bigger
community. The Business Incentive Policy is not geared to give anybody an advantage over any other bidder. It is geared to equalize the bidding process. That is the reason this is done. All conditions of the tender are published when the initial tender documents are given to the contractors. Addendums to those contracts are a normal way of doing business when there are other issues involved in the contract. An addendum to this contract was issued two days prior to closing. It was an administrative oversight not to note it until this time. It was noted and we felt at that time it would not affect any of the people capable of bidding on that contract. They were all informed to adjust their tenders in time for closing. It equalized the playing field for all northern businesses. Thank you.