Hon. John Pollard's return to Question W10-12(2), asked by Mr. Nerysoo on February 27, 1992: The following is offered in response to the questions raised concerning the purchase of the Hay River Sawmill by the Northwest Territories Development Corporation:

1) The government has not issued any instructions to departments regarding the purchase of lumber products from the Hay River Sawmill that was recently purchased by the NWT Development Corporation. The sawmill has submitted bids to supply lumber to several NWT companies that have submitted tenders for supplying lumber to government departments, and it is expected that the sawmill will continue to work with northern lumber yards in developing the tenders for lumber supply;

2) the same GNWT purchasing rules and guidelines will apply to all northern-owned sawmills in the NWT;

3) the NWT Development Corporation will consider financial investment in other sawmills in the NWT on receipt of a request for investment from the owners of the other sawmills;

4) no government tender requirements will be waived for the Hay River Sawmill, including those associated with moisture content of the lumber -- levels of moisture content can be achieved through air drying or kiln drying. The sawmill has historically supplied lumber that has met the moisture content required to meet existing government, contractor and lumber yard standards.