Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I made a Member's statement on behalf of Nunavut Caucus last week, expressing our strong concern that a major northern warning system contract was awarded to a Quebec firm, instead of Avati, an Inuit-owned company with a very good environmental and Inuit employment record, which had previously been awarded the contract. Has the Minister done anything to look into the circumstances which lead to this alarming development? Thank you.
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
In the Legislative Assembly on March 4th, 1994. See this topic in context.
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
Titus Allooloo Amittuq
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
March 3rd, 1994
Page 546
The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis
Thank you, Mr. Allooloo. Mr. Minister.
Return To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, the issuing of federal contracts is not a responsibility of this Minister.
Return To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis
Mr. Allooloo.
Supplementary To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
Titus Allooloo Amittuq
Mr. Speaker, I would think that the Minister who is responsible for aboriginal people would care enough to contact his counterparts in the federal government. Has the Minister, representing the people in the Northwest Territories, inquired of his counterpart in the federal government as to what happened in this case? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis
Thank you, Mr. Allooloo. Mr. Minister.
Further Return To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, there is a concern I have as a Minister to make sure that the spirit and intent of the Nunavut claim is followed by governments. The Member is correct, we always have to be diligent to make sure that the federal government does not start to slide into the position of not appearing to honour the original intent and spirit of these agreements. It has been the case with treaties all across this country.
But as far as this particular contract is concerned, as I understand it, the federal government as the contractor has decided for economic or political reasons to issue a contract to a Quebec firm. This is not the first time that it has happened. It has happened in previous years in other work that has serious implications for people in the Northwest Territories. Have I as a Minister for aboriginal affairs done anything specifically to protest this action by the federal government? I must say that I have not done anything. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis
Mr. Allooloo.
Supplementary To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
Titus Allooloo Amittuq
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories was given a copy of our letter expressing great concern over the awarding of the contract, and requesting an urgent meeting from Mr. James Eetoolook, acting president of Nunavut Tunngavik, to the federal Minister of Supply and Services, dated February 21, 1994. My question to the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs is, is the Minister aware of whether a reply was given to Mr. Eetoolook's letter? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis
Mr. Minister.
Supplementary To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, I don't understand why the Member is pinpointing his questions at me. I think Mr. Todd is the one who is very anxious to jump up and answer these questions. Since it is the intent of the Members to seek good answers to their good questions, I must humbly request that he redirect his question to Mr. Todd so that Members of this House and the constituents in Nunavut will get the answer and the information that they seek. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was alerted to this situation by Mr. Fred Hunt who is the general manager of the Nunasi Corporation, about two weeks ago. I do have a copy of Mr. Eetoolook's letter with respect to the disappointment of the awarding of this contract to a Quebec firm.
The action that we've taken to date is that I was in consultation with Mr. Anawak's office in Ottawa, asking him if he could make a case to the federal Minister to see what can be done. Letters have gone to Mr. Collenette, the Minister of National Defence, expressing our concern with respect to it, in particular -- as Mr. Kakfwi says -- as it relates to the spirit and intent within the land claim agreement.
I am meeting with Mr. Anawak and Ms. Ethel Blondin-Andrew on Tuesday, and that's one of the issues we intend to address at that time. Hopefully, we'll get some response. I'm not optimistic that we'll get a change, but certainly we want to bring it to the attention of the federal government that, as Mr. Eetoolook said in his letter, under the land claims agreement the spirit and intent was that there be consultation with respect to large contracts similar to the one he's discussing.
We've raised the political profile of the issue. I will be discussing it at some length with Mr. Anawak. Hopefully, we'll be in a position to advise Mr. Eetoolook and the Nunavut Tunngavik group of the results of our discussions with the federal Ministers. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Question 279-12(5): Circumstances Re Awarding Of Contract To Non-inuit Company
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 546
The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis
Thank you very much, Mr. Todd. Before I recognize another Member, in our gallery we have Martha Flaherty, the president of Pauktuutit.
---Applause
Mr. Dent.