Different Ministers may have different interpretations. From a hands-on practical level I do very few of these, and I am not making any excuses for it. I fundamentally believe that sometimes we have a problem with an issue that we do not necessarily have all the answers to. What you do is you do an RFP and ask the private sector to come up with some creative solutions to it. I do not want to oversimplify it, but that is the way I see it. I have seen it work on a couple of occasions, but as a Finance Minister I would say that the number one criteria on RFPs has to be price. You have some responsibility for the public purse. You would be surprised how much talent and creativity you have out there in the private sector. For me, it is a means to find creative solutions to problems that frankly we do not have all the answers for. I am just very appreciative of the fact that on many occasions we can find the private sector to assist us in finding these solutions. I am sure other Ministers may have different interpretations of it. That is the way I see it. It provides us with some flexibility because we may not necessarily have all the answers and ultimately committee of departments usually make the decision. Unless my memory is not correct, price is a primary factor in the ultimate decision of who would get the RFP. I have been asked this now by three Members today and for the last time I will say, we have committed to re-examining some of these policies with respect to contractual arrangements this government does with the private sector. 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 110
John Todd Keewatin Central
See context to find out what was said next.