Minister Kakfwi.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier. I understand that these days, in Yellowknife, you cannot find a free meeting room anywhere because of government-sponsored conferences that are going on. This is great for the economy of the city of Yellowknife, and I know this is prime time for Christmas shopping, which may account for the deluge this week. But, my question to the Premier is this, is the Government of the Northwest Territories committed, wherever possible, to spreading conference business and holding government-sponsored conferences throughout the Northwest Territories to spread the economic benefits as widely as possible?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, definitely, yes, we are.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

I'm pleased to hear that, Mr. Speaker. I guess my supplementary question would be, is there a process or policy in place to ensure that departments are aware of this worthwhile objective of our government? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, Ministers and departments have received letters of direction from myself, frequently, to continue to remind them that there are other places in the Northwest Territories that can offer fine meeting facilities and accommodation. I realize that, from time to time, there are arguments that it is far more appealing to have meetings in Yellowknife, but those directives have been sent out, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to hear that. I wonder if I could ask the Premier if she would then be willing to provide Members with copies of these directives, so we can monitor the performance of these directives ourselves? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the directives are a letter and a memorandum that went out a couple of times to different people. I can provide that information, but it is in the context of a memo which I know we had done on a couple of occasions during the honourable Member's time as a Minister. I try to keep bringing up that particular issue to the attention of people periodically, because, from time to time, they seem to forget. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask this question to the Minister of Government Services and Public Works. It is my understanding that the business incentive policy is to help northern and local businesses that are starting up, to be able to compete in the bigger marketplace. Was it the government's intent, when they were creating the business incentive policy, to help the dollars that are spent on contracts to stay in the Northwest Territories? Is it also to help the local businesses to improve? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The business incentive policy was designed to make an equal playing ground for northern businesses versus southern businesses. There is a 15 per cent preference for northern businesses, and there is a five per cent local preference for local businesses. The spirit and intent of the business incentive policy is to encourage people to hire locally, hire northerners and to encourage northern business development. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In determining where we are applying the business incentive policy, does the government break down the transportation, if the company is using northern transportation, whether they are using accommodation for northerners to work on those jobs? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All tender documents have a preamble in front of them when you go to tender. Contractors are informed, and they know that they are supposed to fill out the tender documents properly. They need to fill them out, as stipulated. If they are buying their materials in the north, they get preference. If they are buying them in the south, they won't allow them to receive that preference. If they hire their labour in the north, they will get preference. If they are using northern accommodation, they will get preference for that. All of those preferences will add up. But, if they do not fill out the document, as is the case of Merkosak out of Pond Inlet, then they are not going to get any preference because we don't read minds. It is very clear, even if you are a local company, if you do not fill out the preference documents or the northern content, then you are not going to get it. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier on in this session, the Minister mentioned that, in this contract, Merkosak did not fill out the forms. My question is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. If the Housing Corporation breaks down a bid package into different components, such as labour costs, transportation costs, accommodation and other miscellaneous costs, why won't a contractor be eligible for consideration under the BIP program for the parts of his bid that met the requirements of this program? If they are found to be lower, why wouldn't they get the contracts?