Thank you very much, Mr. Picco. Mr. Henry, any further questions?

Thank you, Mr. Henry. I have Mr. Steen, Mr. Picco, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Erasmus, and Mr. Krutko. Mr. Steen?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, before I ask my question, I would like to make a comment. The Minister suggested that we need protection. Businesses in the Territories need protection for fear we will be run over by southern firms. On the other hand, we have been telling the federal government that we are grown up now and we are ready for provincial status. I leave that as an open statement. I would like to ask the Minister, would the amendments if brought forward and accepted by Cabinet, apply to the 1997/98 fiscal year?

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Kakfwi?

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is my expectation that we conclude fairly soon that we can meet the target of policy in some revisions by Cabinet, hopefully adopted by Cabinet, so we can put it in place for the upcoming year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Steen?

Madam Chair. Obviously, there are some contracts in place on an ongoing basis that are probably locked in. This government is locked in with the existing bid. I wonder if the Minister could give us a rough estimate as to how many, or what percentage that might be?

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Kakfwi?

Thank you, Madam Chair. The contracts currently in place would not be affected by any changes that we bring forward. It would only apply to new contracts that would be coming out for the current year. I have no figures in response to the Member's question. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Steen?

Madam Chair. The Premier stated last year that hamlets that had taken on contracts for this government have to abide by the BIP. My question to the Minister is, at whose cost? Is it going to be the responsibility of the communities to bear the cost of monitoring the BIP, implementing the BIP and monitoring the contractors?

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Kakfwi?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Whichever department or agency that is handling the contract does the monitoring at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Steen?

Madam Chair, I hate to throw another question away here. Is he suggesting that the hamlets are responsible?

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Do you want to maybe backtrack to your other question, Mr. Steen and just clarify the question? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I believe that there was a question in the House last year addressed to the Premier as to whether or not communities who received block funding or who take on full authority contracts for this government. The question to the Premier was, "Are they required to abide by the BIP when tendering these types of contracts"? and the answer from the Premier was, "Yes". Now my question was this, "Who would bear the cost of monitoring these contracts if the hamlets tender the contracts and have to abide by the BIP? Do the hamlets have to abide and monitor the contractor to see that he abides by the BIP?"

Thank you, Mr. Steen for that clarification. Mr. Kakfwi?

Madam Chair, it is a bit hypothetical. The business incentive policy only applies to the Government of the Northwest Territories. Where a hamlet might provide the contract on behalf of the government, yes it would be the hamlet that has to monitor to ensure that whomever they have contracted complies with the requirements of the business incentive policy.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Steen?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I understand the Minister to say that it is the responsibility of the hamlets to monitor and ensure that the contractors comply with the BIP. Therefore, my question is where does this funding come from so that they can have personnel hired to monitor the contractor?

Mr. Steen?

Obviously, Madam Chair, the government has said it takes X-number of staff from their departments in order to monitor the contracts for the BIP. My question is, where are the hamlets going to get staff to monitor the BIP?