Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS, the Government of the Northwest Territories is responsible for the expenditure of public funds provided to them under the appropriation authority of the Legislative Assembly;
AND WHEREAS, the Government of the Northwest Territories is accountable for the manner in which funds are expended;
AND WHEREAS, the Government of the Northwest Territories awards a number of non-competitive contracts as well as those awarded through normal bidding and tendering processes, including negotiated sole-sourced construction management and site management services contracts;
AND WHEREAS, individuals, businesses and business associations have expressed concern about the lack of a clear process for the awarding of contracts;
AND WHEREAS, Members of the Legislative Assembly have requested clarification, surrounding non-competitive contracts;
AND WHEREAS, procedures respecting the awarding of all government contracts should be transparent;
AND WHEREAS, the government has provided a draft policy on negotiated contracts to standing committees of the Legislative Assembly;
AND WHEREAS, a more systematic review of the rewarding of contracts by the Government of the Northwest Territories is needed to make them more transparent and open to public scrutiny;
AND WHEREAS, the Minister of Finance committed to re-examining the policies respecting vehicles by which government contracts are awarded, in particular, the process for requests for proposals;
NOW THEREFORE, I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Iqaluit, that the Legislative Assembly request the Executive Council to undertake a review of the Government of the Northwest Territories guidelines and procedures respecting the awarding of contracts through the use of requests for proposals;
AND FURTHER, that the guidelines and procedures be reviewed to ensure inclusion and application of the principles of fairness, equity and transparency;
AND FURTHER, that this review be tabled during the February sitting of this Assembly.