There is no basis for it in some societies and it is contrary to the convention that contracts be awarded on the basis of competition and value for money.
Another way in which the government avoids testing the marketplace to get the best value for money is through proposal calls. This happens less in the capital program than in the O and M program. But, it is one more indication of a government not prepared to allow competitive bidding to take place. Yet, this is the only system which provides governments with an objective system for purchasing contract services. It means the government will search out opportunities to avoid giving work to companies which have proven they can perform well, time and time again, and hope they can find new competitors who will achieve the same kind of status, over a longer period of time.
Mr. Speaker, I was amazed to find last week that there are Members in the Assembly who want to make decisions about capital projects, really political decisions. Last week we had the example of ordinary Members asking that the road program be re-examined for the umpteenth time. Every objective criteria for the establishment of the road program was explained in great detail by the Department of Transport staff, yet for some reason we were not prepared to accept the story we were told several times and have asked that we re-examine it again.
The idea that every department treats the capital program like butter, which must be spread equally and evenly along the piece of bread, makes little sense. We have to retain the maximum amount of objectivity so that capital is allocated on the basis of real need and priority, not because something is nice to have or because someone says they want to have it.
I agree with the emphasis the government has placed -- and this is where I get to be flowery now -- on housing, and on training and education facilities. To make something a priority, however, is meaningless unless it is reflected in the budget. To simply hold out hope that the federal government will come to the rescue, is not a responsible approach and makes stating priorities a little bit hollow because we should put our money where our mouth is.
What is very commendable in this budget is the commitment to northern contracts. I'm sure our Members are pleased that 80 per cent of the dollar value of the contracts has gone to northerners. Awarding contracts on northern preference, again, Mr. Speaker, is a risky business and we may have a limited number of years ahead of us where we will be able to do this without being challenged by other jurisdictions. We should be careful how we move.
I'm also pleased to see the government continue with the experiment to present the capital budget in the fall session. This has been talked about for as long as I can remember, but never acted upon. The current government is to be congratulated on taking this bold step which other governments avoided for a long period of time. I'm sure that over the next two years, the full value of dealing with a capital budget in the fall will be realized and will become a permanent part of our budgetary procedure.
I have one comment, Mr. Speaker, on roads. There can be no doubt that, using all objective criteria, the highway from Yellowknife to Providence has the highest utilization. It also has the most wear and tear, and the highest accident rates. I'm happy to see the Minister has decided that would be a priority in the capital program. In fixing the road from Yellowknife to Edzo, thought should be given, Mr. Speaker, and I know this may not be easy to achieve, but we have one of the biggest lakes in North America sitting right next to us and it's almost inaccessible. There must be some way in the planning of government to find ways of making that lake
accessible to the 10,000 vehicles that come up that road and would like to find some way of getting into that lake.
I should also state, Mr. Speaker, that the extension of the Ingraham Trail to MacKay Lake, may seem to some people like a road to nowhere, but that road, if it were to be initiated as the commencement of a road to Coppermine, would provide access to a very large number of deposits of that area of great interest to the mining industry and to the people of the Northwest Territories, who see the mining sector as having great potential for our economy, especially in the western Arctic. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause