Return to Written Question 30-12(7), asked by Mr. Patterson to the Minister of Public Works and Services, concerning the purchase of services from northern municipal governments.

Northern municipalities are not businesses and therefore are not eligible for benefits of the business incentive policy. Municipalities are forms of public government and, as a result, are restricted in their activities with private business.

Most, if not all, of the equipment municipalities rent out and supplies they sell were provided directly or indirectly by GNWT funding. Municipalities should not be provided the same preference as private companies who must finance their own assets.