Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past several days, people have asked me why I was trying to get the negotiated and sole-source contracts tabled in this House. Mr. Speaker, I was asked who was I trying to get, what company was I trying to implicate. There could be nothing further from the truth, Mr. Speaker. I believe that public money spent by this government should be accountable to the people. I think that the residents of the NWT should know what contracts were let, why and how much. Accountability, Mr. Speaker, accountability. When the facts are on the table, then and only then can informed debate take place.
Transparency, Mr. Speaker, transparency. How often have I heard it in this House? When the public and MLAs have access to a list of sole-source and negotiated contracts, the people of the NWT will be able to judge if particular projects or, for that matter, purchases were done at a premium.
During my election campaign -- it's right here, Mr. Speaker, in one of my pamphlets -- I said that, as a first step, more accountability and public disclosure from all levels of government is needed. That was back in September, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is not a witch hunt or a vendetta, this is money spent by a public government and given that it is public government, it has to be accountable to the public.
If it is not public, then where there are no collusions or favouritism, some people might perceive this as so. Other jurisdictions in this country publish said information. Although we are in a fiscal crisis in the NWT, can we not afford the few dollars it will cost to publish the requested information?
Mr. Speaker, what Member in this House will say no to the public who want to see this, the 13th Assembly, doing government differently? That is why we were elected and that is why I have moved this motion. Accountability and transparency in the way this government does business will show the people of the NWT that the 13th Assembly is accountable and transparent.
I would request that all Members of this House respect the wishes of the public and publish all sole-source and negotiated contracts as moved in the aforesaid motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.