Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. I have a return to an oral question asked of the Premier by Mr. Whitford on March 21, 1994. It concerns the policy for sole source contracts.

Madam Speaker, section 003 of the government human resource manual describes conflict of interest and outside employment. Paragraph 13 of this section states that "for one year from the date their employment ceases, senior officers may not own, operate, control or be employed by any business enterprise within the community in which they were employed and in which they may be in a position to unduly exploit knowledge they gained while employed by the Government of the Northwest Territories."

Madam Speaker, a senior officer is defined in this section as a deputy minister, assistant deputy minister, regional director, assistance regional director, head of a secretariat of the Executive Council, chief executive officer of a government corporation or agency, executive branch staff, regional superintendent, director, or a person appointed by a Minister to serve on executive staff who is paid out of public funds.

Madam Speaker, in conforming with the above guideline, the government, as a general rule, will not, for a period of one year, contract work out to a senior officer in the community in which the senior officer was employed and in a position to unduly exploit knowledge gained while employed by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.