Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on numerous occasions government has referred to its commitment to buy northern and hire northern through such initiatives as the business incentive policy, the architect and engineering policy with DPW and the affirmative action policy and, Mr. Speaker, in more generic terms, the northern preference policy.
Mr. Speaker, the community transfer initiative, CTI, has been established for a number of reasons, but its primary purpose was to turn over more responsibilities to the hamlets so the communities could have more say in the running of their community.
Mr. Speaker, the overall goal is to empower the communities. I applaud the previously mentioned initiatives, but they cannot be effective if there isn't open and honest dialogue. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this government must take the time to listen more attentively to the concerns and recommendations from each community. Mr. Speaker, I have some serious concerns in my riding of Kivallivik regarding how committed some government departments are in terms of the concerns and recommendations, for example, from Arviat and Baker Lake.
Mr. Speaker, a case in point was the recent awarding of a contract for the running of the group home in Baker Lake. Mr. Speaker, prior to the contract being awarded, I approached the Minister of Health and Social Services on a number of occasions regarding the community's wish to have the group home run by local people as opposed to outsiders. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, my request was not honoured as the contract was awarded without my knowledge and I found out after the fact by one of our local community members.
Mr. Speaker, the real concern here is that the contract was awarded to an outside or southern company without much thought or consideration for the other local groups that applied. Mr. Speaker, the local bids may not have been perfect, but Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to continue my statement.