Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, there were two contacts which were awarded at that time. The Minister explained to me that the band council did not get the contract because it was not registered under the Business Incentive Policy. The Minister will recall that I asked questions with regard to this at that time because those are permanent people. Do they need to register? At the time the Minister said, "yes." This is why I asked the question in the first place. Should permanent residents be required to register under the Business Incentive Policy? I would like to ask the Minister whether it was based on the policy that the band council lost out?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once the Business Incentive Policy was applied to that tender it was

awarded to the lowest bidder and it was not the band. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government has asked me to find out how we can best utilize the resources that are assigned for fire suppression and forest management with respect to forest fires in the Northwest Territories. It has asked me how we, as a government, can maximize the number of northern contractors in fire operation, and maximize the employment which could be derived from the fire operation. It asked me to work with my department to see how we could achieve this. This is the reason why we have been asked to review our program, for Cabinet to make policies. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister how it relates to the operation of fire suppression and fire management to do a review to place this aircraft maintenance facility on hold? What does he feel is the relationship? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

I believe something is being developed in Fort Smith and all the groups are working together. We are pursuing a possible location for aircraft maintenance and I am told that the community is no longer able to come up with a united view, on the facility. Cabinet has asked me, until the community is able to work together on this issue, to look into how we could approach aircraft maintenance in the Northwest Territories for fire operations. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe the idea of the community not being able to be united on coming up with a view with respect to the aircraft maintenance facility is correct. The Minister indicated in his reply that until the community can come up with a united view, they have placed this aircraft maintenance on hold. Is the Department of Renewable Resources reneging on their location for this aircraft maintenance facility? It appears that the Minister indicated that in his reply.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, we will still pursue aircraft maintenance for the fire operations in the Northwest Territories. At this point, it has to do with reviewing the types of aircraft which we will be maintaining in the maintenance facilities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

I recognize that this is my last supplementary. The Minister indicated that they are still planning for the aircraft maintenance facility. I want a specific yes, or no answer. Is the Minister indicating to me that it is the government's intention to place an aircraft maintenance facility in Fort Smith, or is placing an aircraft maintenance facility in Fort Smith no longer the current commitment of this government?

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, we are still committed at this time to having a facility in Fort Smith.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Public Works has explained to us in great detail why the contract for supplying furniture for the Legislative Assembly went to a firm in Hay River on the other side of the lake. He has explained the need to have a level playing field. I am going to test his ingenuity to explain why this contract was awarded in this way.

In September, there was a tender for a tanker. This bituminous oil tanker had three replies to the tender call: Wilmag Equipment from Edmonton, for $67,459; Yellowknife Motors, for $68,808; and Northern Metallic, Hay River, for $70,800. The award was given to the Hay River company even though it was the highest bid. This was done ingeniously, Mr. Speaker. Yellowknife Motors was given a 15 per cent B.I.P. adjustment. The Edmonton firm got zero. The Hay River company, however, got a 20 per cent adjustment. It got the 15 per cent plus the extra five. We find that the attempt to create this level playing field with adjusted figures does not really work. This five per cent was applied to the Hay River case even though the Yellowknife bid, from a person in my constituency, was denied that five per cent B.I.P. adjustment that was given to the people of Hay River. Please explain that.

That was more in the way of a statement. Could you pose a definitive question to the Minister? Mr. Lewis.

In the case I have just quoted, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, why was the B.I.P. adjustment of the extra five per cent given to the Hay River contractor and not to the Yellowknife contractor?