Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When tender goes out for any contract for the NWT Housing Corporation or DPW, the people bidding are required to fill out the tender documents properly. It is laid out in the very beginning of the tender document that you will fill out your local preference, northern preference and where you are going to buy your materials from, northern or southern. The documentation is there for contractors to fill out. Once the tender closes, if that information hasn't been filled out, then it cannot be added at a later date. The tender will be evaluated as such. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is understandable. That practice has to be there to protect the government and the contractors. Mr. Speaker, in the Minister's response, he stated that this contract was labour only. In the documentation that I received from Mr. Merkosak, apparently after the bids were opened by the government, the government then sent those bid documents back to the contractor. Apparently, the Housing Corporation worker put Mr. Kheraj's documents into Salamonie's envelope and Salamonie's documents into Kheraj's envelope. Mr. Salamonie phoned me. That was how he was able to see all the documents that Mr. Kheraj put together. Is that true, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if that is true. That is what the Member tells me, so I will take his word for it. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Minister Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I indicated to the honourable Member for Inuvik that I would be tabling the document today. While I did not indicate it in the statement, I am prepared for tabling it when we get to tabling of documents.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question to the Minister of Transportation with regard to the bridge in Baker Lake. They had originally planned to build the bridge this past summer with some assistance from the Department of Transportation, however, the department was not able to come back in time for the community to construct this bridge. I would like to know from the Minister why they were not able to come back to the community. Thank you.

Minister Todd.

It was my understanding, Mr. Speaker, that the community had thought it could put a small bridge across this particular river or stream that people use to go hunting. It was the concern, and still is the concern, of the department that we have a safety responsibility in where we spend our money and how we construct bridges. We have to meet certain standards, and we are mandated to do that.

The department felt that what was being suggested by the municipality, while it was creative and was acknowledged as creative, would be a bridge that would not meet the basic safety standards required of the department when they install or finance bridges. It is not the intention, I want to stress to the honourable Member again, for us not to complete this project. There are discussions under way with the municipality, and I will work hard to try and seek some resolve and some strategy or plan into place as quickly as possible that will: one, get this access road in place and; two, place the priority on the installation of the bridge so the people have the ability and mobility to move about in that particular area. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Transportation. I believe it was about two years ago the Department of Transportation implemented a policy with regard to removal of snow from the trappers' access roads off the highway near Fort Smith. It applies to all trappers just off the highway. By way of implementation, trappers had to go to the highway office to purchase a flag for a fee of $35. Last summer, the Minister drove to Fort Smith from Hay River and I showed him where some of these trappers' cabins were and how close they were to the highway. Since we have had a fair amount of snow, particularly around my constituency, has the Minister had a chance to review that policy and determine whether it was required? Thank you.

Minister Todd.

I have had an opportunity to review the policy. We have looked at the needs of trappers, given their current fiscal condition in the fur area. It is my understanding that we had an agreement with Parks to clear the snow in the trappers' area. There was some slight confusion about the flags and the $35. I was told yesterday that we are now clearing the snow into the trappers' cabins at no cost to them. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the question I have is directed to the Minister of Social Services. I have been told that one of my constituent's children is in Iqaluit in the open custody facility. He was transported there in August and he'll be returning home next August. The parents of that child would like to go visit that individual. I would like to ask the Minister of Social Services, whether people being held in open custody could be visited by the parents and if the parents could get some financial assistance to go visit the individual? Thank you.

Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Social assistance received by the individual can be used. They can also pay the social assistance recipient a certain amount of money for airfare. I will look into this for the Member and get back to him. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister of Housing is aware of the unfortunate situation of two families living on the beach in Iqaluit. I know efforts were made last year to provide them with alternative housing through the Minister's good offices and those of the Minister of Social Services but, unfortunately, those arrangements collapsed late this summer and they were forced to move back on to the beach.

The Minister is aware that I provided him some suggestions on how to deal with that problem. I wonder if he could inform the House of the current status of those two families on the beach? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.