Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The subject of the business incentive policy has been discussed a number of times during the session, and I have some questions in that regard. The business incentive policy gives contractual preference to companies based in the NWT, and one of the terms of the BIP is that northerners be hired if they are qualified and available. My question will be for the Minister responsible for the BIP.

Recently I was informed of a joint venture company that won a highways contract and subsequently subcontracted the work out to an Alberta firm. The Alberta firm has all of its own equipment and will be bringing in all of its own operators and, therefore, no northerners are to be hired. Now, I have been informed that experienced heavy equipment operators have phoned the company for jobs, but they are told that all the equipment operators will come from the Alberta subcontractor. This particular contract was awarded by the Department of Transportation, but my question will be for the Minister responsible for BIP: After the department has awarded a contract under the BIP provisions, is the BIP monitored to ensure that the hiring policies are followed by the company and its subcontractors?

Mr. Speaker, it is the Department of Transportation's responsibility to monitor the contracts that they issue to ensure that the contractors live up to the conditions and policies that were set out as part of the contract. So we will be asking for the Minister of Transportation to review that specific contract to ensure that everything has been done according to policy. Thank you.

That raises a further question in generalities, and that question really is, if a contractor contravenes the intent of the BIP but it already has the contract, will the department or will the government suspend the contract with that contractor.

Mr. Speaker, there are specific provisions within the policy to remedy situations where the contractors are not complying with the original conditions of the contract that they accept responsibility for. As I said

earlier, once we know the specifics of the situation, the Minister of Transportation will review it along with myself to see what, if anything, has occurred that needs to be remedied and we will provide the appropriate remedy as set out in our policy. Thank you.

The concern I have, Mr. Speaker: Is there a monitoring system of the contractors once the contract is given to ensure that the BIP is adhered to; and, is there a policy in effect that allows the government to follow up on BIP contracts?

Mr. Speaker, it is the responsibility of the departments under whose jurisdiction the contracts are issued, to monitor and ensure that the contractors are complying with the conditions set out in the original tenders of the negotiated contracts. Thank you.

Now that the BIP has been transferred to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, will the Minister assure me that he and his department will be the ones to follow up and to do the monitoring on the awarding of BIP contracts to ensure that northerners are hired on projects?

Mr. Speaker, although I am the Minister responsible for the business incentive policy, it will be each respective department that issues contracts to monitor their contractors to ensure that they comply with the conditions set out in the original tenders, the conditions set out in the negotiated contracts and to ensure that each contractor complies with the policies of the Northwest Territories government. Thank you.