Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, let me commend the Minister for the excellent introduction of his budget. It is good stuff. I think it is sincere and the kind of stuff that we have all talked about. Certainly, the current Member talked about it many times when he was in the Legislative Assembly. Clearly, we have to look at the capital budget and the budget of the Northwest Territories as an economic instrument to ensure that maximum benefits go to all Northerners both in employment and in the private sector. The initiatives the standing committee on finance and the current Minister of Public Works is bringing forward are commendable and in keeping with strong feeling held by most of the Members of this Legislature.
With respect to the capital budget per se, the Public Works capital budget, there was some concern that in these difficult times perhaps office renovations for civil servants at this particular time may not necessarily be a reflection of our needs and perhaps there should be a re-examining of that.
There was also some concern that perhaps the standards -these palatial palaces that some people reside in -- are a little high when you consider the majority of people are having a difficult time finding employment and finding houses, et cetera. As I say on many occasions, and as I will say until we get running water in houses, there are people without running water in their homes.
On the business incentive policy, the committee noted and I know the Minister as a former MLA spoke strongly to it that there has been significant improvement in the "buy North' policy over the years. Everybody has to be commended for that. We do give credit when credit is due. In this case, it is due.
However, like everything else, there is always room for improvement. The business incentive policy is an important economic instrument for bringing about change in this country, in the North. The NWT is in a different situation than the rest of Canada when it comes to unemployment. Our skill level is low, and our job opportunities are few. Northerners have to see changes happening now in order to have hope and to be optimistic for a job for an opportunity in the future. This is not something we should talk about. This is something that we should do. We do not need 20 reasons why we cannot do something. We only need one reason why we should do it.
The committee is prepared to support the government if they will do things differently, as has been suggested in the speech by the Minister. The standing committee on finance believes that northern employers will be more conscientious in the recruitment, hiring and training of Northerners than southern ones. But, also, the standing committee on finance agrees that we have to put in some necessary checks and balances to ensure that Northerners, particularly in the employment field, do behave and perform in a manner which is acceptable to the Legislature. As well, to put in place positive reinforcement to working toward maximum job creation in the expenditure of territorial funds.
The standing committee on finance will recommend that the government implement the policy directive given by the Legislative Assembly which will permit only companies resident in the Northwest Territories and who meet the government's business incentive policy to tender in all GNWT contracts. This is consistent with the previous standing committee on finance, and consistent with many speeches the current Minister has made with respect to this policy.
The committee believes that the "buy North" policy should be implemented immediately. Government should keep it simple and practical, and stop referring to it as an absolute preference. Government should work with employers to provide on-the-job training and provide positive reinforcement for employers to "buy North" and "hire North." This likely means taking a totally different creative way to get the job done, as we have talked about and as you have addressed in your speech, which we appreciate. All government contracts for goods and services, not just construction, should be part of that business incentive policy.
In closing, Mr. Chairman, I am certainly encouraged by the Minister's comments today. But you know, there is an old saying that action speaks louder than words. We certainly hope that six or eight months from now what has been suggested and what has been recommended will be put into effect, and that the net effect to Northerners will be a plus, not a negative. Thank you.