Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Negotiated contracts between the government and northern businesses have been the subject of some controversy since the government started the practice. As discussed in last year's report, committee Members are generally in favour of the goals of the policy. However, the committee felt that full disclosure of the details of such contracts was a critical part of ensuring and maintaining public confidence in the government, and made a recommendation to that effect. The Minister agreed with the recommendation and promised to disclose the details of negotiated contracts.
Unfortunately, the department is responding very slowly to last year's recommendation. Recently, the Minister informed the committee that a draft policy is still being developed, and may be ready after March. The committee is disappointed that it has taken this long for the government to address the issue of disclosure. They are especially concerned that the department appears to be delaying this policy until after the upcoming election. Committee Members suggested to the Minister that they would be reluctant to approve this department's budget unless this policy had first been approved and tabled in the House.
Privatization
Last year, the committee congratulated the department on having privatized such areas as publications and printing. Committee Members agree that privatization should be considered whenever it would both reduce government operating costs and would provide an opportunity for northern entrepreneurs and economic development.
However, this year, the Minister made no mention of any privatization initiatives, other than the elimination of the photographer's position. The committee encourages the department to continue to look for areas which would be better and more efficiently handled in the private sector, perhaps including such areas as warehousing and records management, as mentioned by this committee in last year's report.
That's the report of the Standing Committee on Finance, Mr. Chairman.