I do not know the answer, but if I could give you my interpretation of what I think RFPs are, as I tried to when Mr. Henry or somebody questioned me earlier. I fundamentally believe that RFPs are the ways and means in which to find entrepreneurial input into creative solutions as to how we should solve some of our problems, whether it is building roads, building hospitals, et cetera. I do not think it is anything else. I know there is a concern out there by a small majority of the business community. It is a legitimate concern. We have to try and answer that. I think I said that earlier on today. We are going to try to do that. It will probably become more so when it comes to public/private partnerships. All we are trying to do is to try to maximize government dollars to get the infrastructure required into the constituencies we all represent. That is the objective. How we get there at this stage of the game, there could be a variety of ways. It does not necessarily always have to be by the public tender process. If we had left the darn public tender process in place over the last ten or 15 years, how many aboriginal organizations would be in the private sector now? I have sat back here for 30 years and watched a minority group of non-aboriginal businesses take all the business and all the money. You have to find creative ways. You have to make political decisions to find a balance within the economic constituency. RFP may be one way. Negotiated contracts is another way. Public tenders are another. Thank you.
John Todd on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on October 23rd, 1997. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
October 22nd, 1997
Page 105
John Todd Keewatin Central
See context to find out what was said next.