Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to congratulate you on your election as Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to talk about northern preference, or rather the lack of northern preference in a recent contract award. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, I received a call from a constituent who is the owner of a drywall and painting company here in Yellowknife. He had bid on the drywall and paint contract for the Thebacha College building, presently under construction in Fort Smith. He told me that he had been advised that the contract would be awarded to an Edmonton company, even though his company's bid should have been, with BIP adjustments, considered the lowest.