I would like to speak to this motion, Mr. Chairman. Although I do not buy lots of vehicles, there are not that many choices when it comes right down to it about where you can purchase vehicles in the Northwest Territories. It has always been my policy to try to buy a vehicle at the closest possible place in the support of local business. I do not drive out a thousand miles to buy something just to save a few bucks.
The concern I have is this, Mr. Chairman. A local contractor, and someone who supplies vehicles, told me in no uncertain terms that it would be far simpler for him and save him an awful lot of time if instead of simply writing a tender asking for people to bid on the supply of vehicles to the Government of the Northwest Territories, to simply put down that they want a Ford truck, The only place you are going to get that is from Hay River. Instead of simply saying this is the kind of general vehicle we want, it is pretty clear that what they want is a Ford truck. So, why not put on there that you want a Ford truck of this kind, and this is where you get it from?
I get this every year from local suppliers who do not sell Ford trucks. That is why I support this particular motion. Make it quite clear what the rules are so that people do not waste their time bidding on things which they know they are not going to get even though, on many occasions, they may be the low bidder. Thank you.