Mr. Pollard. I am sorry, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Before I recognize Mr. Dent, the Chair would like to recognize the visitors in the gallery today, members of the St. Patrick's grade 11 social studies class and their teacher, Mr. Randy Rivers.

---Applause

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, who is also the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, given the business community is a fundamentally important part of our economy in the N.W.T., it is also economically an important part of the G.N.W.T., this includes economic growth and social well being. I would like to know if the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism will do everything in his power to see that, in the coming year, the small businesses across the territories that are locally owned, either in a small community or in a larger centre such as Yellowknife, Hay River,

I am sure he will not miss Hay River, Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit etc. Mr. Speaker, people of Pelly Bay, Gjoa Haven and Spence Bay feel that they have not been given a fair chance when it comes to the running of business. I would like to know if the Minister will be looking into this matter seriously. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Pollard.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will look into the matter.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of concerns that have come out from three of my communities, one has come to dealing with the contracts that were spoken about the last few days. They do not get the consideration from the government, mainly from Economic Development within the region. A number of times they have not been successful in getting the contract, which they feel they deserve to get their fair share of, and it is still because of the lack of assistance from the regional staff. I would like to ask the Minister if he will ensure that his staff, within the Kitikmeot region, work very closely with the small businesses within the region. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will issue a directive in that regard. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, I wrote to the Minister of Education earlier this week, however, I recognize he was out of town and out of the House, so I do not believe he received my correspondence until yesterday. Mr. Speaker, I met with the Minister of Education, last week, in requesting an extension to the proposal request for Arctic College's contract for food services at Thebacha campus cafeteria. Last summer, Members will recall that I brought this issue up, and shortly after we adjourned, Arctic College decided to cancel the tendering process, and bring it forth as a request for proposal. The Minister, last week, and I appreciate his response to that, in my request for asking for an extension, considered a one week extension to the closure of this proposal request. Recognizing the number of concerns in my four page letter I sent to the Minister, I would like to ask him if he has reconsidered an additional extension to this proposal call for contracting food services at the Thebacha campus cafeteria. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, we have not considered extending, again, the proposal. We have already extended it for one week, and we have decided not to extend it again after today's deadline.

Thank you. Supplementary, Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if he could, since he has decided not to extend the request for proposal of the food contracting services, justify, in respect to the terms and conditions of the request for proposal, to assure this House and the public that the request for proposal was not developed for a particular company. Can he assure this House, that both the appearance of fairness to the bidders and the efficiency of the food services is going to be what is looked for in this proposal request when they award the tenders? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The awarding of the contracts is done by the Arctic College through Government Services. The criteria for the invitation of proposals outline specifically as to what is to be considered. In fact, if I may, Mr. Speaker, the implication for proposal, whether it is catering or the construction by Government Services or Department of Public Works, are not any different at all, because of the substantial amount of a contract like that. Everything has to be very clear and specific to ensure that the proposals are under these standards.

Thank you. Further supplementary, Member for Thebacha.