Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to announce today that the government has selected its partner for the development of the digital communications network that was first announced to this Assembly during the Budget Address in May.
This decision is an important step in a long process to improve and modernize the communications network in the NWT as we prepare to enter the twenty first century.
To ensure that northerners have access to the opportunities presented by a modern communications network, the GNWT has taken the step of acting as the anchor tenant to get this network off the ground.
Equally as important, Mr. Speaker, was the requirement to make this increases service available on a fee for service basis to other levels of government, businesses, non-profit organizations, and individual citizens across the Territories. The implementation of the publicly accessible high speed data communications network holds tremendous potential to provide new spin off opportunities for northern companies and residents.
Mr. Speaker, three companies responded to the request for proposals. Over the past two and a half months, we have analyzed the proposals and met with two of the proponents to review their proposals and ask further detailed questions. Based on this detailed analysis, I am pleased to announce that the successful proponent is Ardicom Digital Communications Inc., a northern owned and operated company. The equal owners of Ardicom are: Arctic Co-operatives, NASCO, the Northern Aboriginal Services Corporation, and NorthwesTel.
Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. is the co-operative federation for 41 community based co-operatives across the Territories. In addition to numerous other services, Arctic Co-ops run cable TV distribution systems in a number of NWT communities.
NASCO is owned by four aboriginal development corporations; Denendeh Development Corporation, Yukon First Nations, Nunasi Corporation, and the Inuvialuit Corporation. NASCO is experienced in providing services and operating facilities throughout the North.
I want to emphasize that this network will be available to every community across the Territories. Through services such as distance education, tele-medicine and electronic delivery of government services, we will be able to improve services while avoiding spiral costs.
Members will be aware that the major user departments have already identified funding in their business plans for the cost of this service. We expect other departments and organizations to utilize this service as opportunities for service improves and cost reductions become available to them.
The request for proposal requires that the network be completed by March 31, 1999. We remain committed to this deadline in order to ensure that the network is completely in place by the time this Territory divides and in time for the new Territory of Nunavut to take full use of its capacity to support a decentralized structure and operations. However, we are also hopeful that this time frame can be shortened to make the entire network operational prior to that date.
Once negotiations with Ardicom Digital Communications have been concluded, I will provide Members of this House and the residents of the NWT, with the further details of the plans to implement this exciting project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.