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

I would like to ask the Minister who did the submission to the board for this proposal from the Federation of Labour, recognizing that the precedent of the Federation of Labour is also on the Workers' Compensation Board.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the N.W.T. Federation of Labour did receive the $15,000 to do the study. I would have to take the question as notice because I do not know specifically who prepared the submission.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Renewable Resources. A couple of times polar bears have gone into the community of Pelly Bay and it is very scary for the community. I know that the Minister of Renewable Resources is aware that the polar bear season is open for Pelly Bay in December. They would like to put it back to an earlier date. I would like to know if he could look into setting the polar bear season to an earlier date. Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Northwest Territories, polar bear season opens on different dates. Some open on October 1, December 1, November 15 and also from January 1 to 15. Those are the dates that polar bear season opens in the communities. If one community's polar bear season opens on December 1, and they would like to move it to a closer date they could talk to us. The regional H.T.A.s could also be approached regarding this. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Bernhardt.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Social Services. In my many years as a social worker I have always treated the people fairly and with dignity, be they native or non-native. However, in the community which I represent, I received a letter of complaint that a social worker would not believe that a certain mother was out of bare necessities. By that, I mean: flour, sugar, tea, etc. The worker would not believe this lady, so she went to her home for her own investigation to check the cupboards. Could the Minister tell me if it is a policy of the social workers of Social Services to look into someone's cabinet at home and to invade people's privacy?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that is a policy to go into someone's home and check out their cupboards. However, if that did happen, I would be prepared to look into that particular incident and see what did happen, why it happened and report back to the Member. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to continue questioning the Minister of Public Works and Government Services on the tender for carpeting, furniture, etc. for the Legislative Assembly. There were four bids to provide this furniture, Mr. Speaker: one for $1.35 million, another for $1.65 million, another one for $1.274 and another one for $1.379 million. I give those figures because there is a spread between the lowest and the highest of roughly $376,000. The bid went to the highest figure. Since we are in a financial crisis in this government, would the Minister explain to us why we are spending $376,000 more for this furniture than we could be if we had chosen another bid?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With all respect to the Member, there was one bid put in that was for part "a" of the furniture. There were more bids put in on part "b". The brunt of the questions in the last few days concerned part "a" of the furniture. There was only one tender that was responsive on that tender call and it was awarded to that tender. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Speaker, I will give you the figures from part "a". Creative Paper bid from part "a" $639,000. United Carpet bid $885,000. Arctic Data bid $487,000. G.W. Business bid $626,000. On Part "a", the preferred bid was the highest bid of $885,000. The difference is greater than the difference I just gave you for the overall provision of furniture. Would the Minister explain why, on part "a", this bid went to the highest bidder in the order of about $400,000?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, the Department of Government Services and Public Works put out a tender for the furniture for the Legislative Assembly building. Those people who took out tender packages submitted them. When they were evaluated, there was only one responsive bid. That was from United Carpet for $885,489.21. There was no other responsive bid so it was awarded to United Carpet. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Would the Minister explain, for the benefit of the Members here and the public, what he means by a responsive bid?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When you call for a specification and quality in a tender, all people must bid according to the specifications and quality. If you bid something completely different, then your bid is rejected. It does not qualify to be put in as a tender. Thank you.