Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was pleased earlier to hear the Minister say that the department is listening to the standing committee on finance when we recommend that the department look at new ways of building things, making projects smaller, more simple, and ensuring standards for construction are reasonable. Only by doing our best to ensure as many projects as possible are set up so local people can work on them will we achieve an important economic goal. Value for money spent does not always mean the most square feet at the cheapest cost, or a fancy building in the end. Sometimes value for money has to include the contribution to the local economy, or as Mr. Todd and his famous friend, Brian Mulroney, are noted for saying, "Jobs, jobs, jobs."
Mr. Chairman, maybe we have to consider in some cases even a system where the whole job may not be tendered but employment initiatives are put in place instead.
Motion To Ensure Maximization Of Value And Local Labour, Carried
Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs work with local authorities and the Department of Public Works to achieve value for money spent; and further, that the department consider new ways to build capital projects that will ensure maximization of local labour and control and support of local general contractors.