Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The answer is "Yes". We have started working on a submission on the GNWT position to be put forward to the CRTC.
Debates of May 28th, 1997
This is page numbers 1157 - 1192 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was communities.
Topics
Return To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Return To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.
Supplementary To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recently this government signed a financing deal with Ardicom, of which the NorthwesTel is a partner. Would the GNWT be in a conflict as a funder of NorthwesTel through the Ardicom contract in regards to the CRTC hearing?
Supplementary To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, I would believe the answer is "No". The rate increase is totally separate from the Ardicom contract which deals with the digital communication infrastructure.
Further Return To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Second supplementary. Mr. Picco.
Supplementary To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know it is a separate issue, but on one hand we are funding NorthwesTel as a partner of Ardicom to about $5 million a year over the next five years to help upgrade equipment. On the other hand, we are now going to be appearing before the CRTC because of the rate increase. Are we biased in our presentation to the CRTC because of that implication? That is my question.
Supplementary To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. The honourable Minister for Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, the Ardicom contract is now one which the GNWT just gives the company $5 million a year. In fact, what we are getting is a system across the territories and service the digital communication services. I will be pleased to pass on a briefing note to the Member to ensure that he has more information on the matter.
Further Return To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Final supplementary. Mr. Picco.
Supplementary To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the government is actually going to sit down and appear before the CRTC as an intervener, I wonder has the government then looked at the possible implications of cost to this government of the rate increases as proposed in the CRTC submission? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, as I said, we are still developing the position paper and, at some point in time, I would expect that the position would be shared with committees of the House. The position would include our views of the rate increase and the levels of service to small communities, et cetera.
Further Return To Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Question 479-13(4): Nwtel Rate Increase
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.
Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
May 27th, 1997
Page 1166
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said earlier, the government has come a long way in producing a report on sole source and negotiated contracts in this report, I found it extremely useful. It tabulates under sole source and negotiated contracts and provides totals at the end of the report for each. It is easy to identify where the money is being spent, on what companies and in what regions, what communities. I have a concern with the amount of sole sourcing and negotiating we are doing in this government and I will address a question on that, but my first question will be to the Deputy Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo, if he could tell me where people can obtain this publication and is it available in a format other than in a printed format? Thank you.
Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Deputy Premier, the Honourable Arlooktoo.
Return To Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1166
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, I believe the report is available for a small fee, but I will find out exactly how it can
be accessed from the government and I will pass it on to the Member.
Return To Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1167
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Supplementary. Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1167
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I just wanted to reconfirm that there is, I understand, an effort to put this on the Internet. I wonder if the Deputy Premier could advise us if work is progressing on doing that.
Supplementary To Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1167
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Deputy Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1167
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, as the Member can see from the size of the report and the detail in it there is an awful lot of work to put the report together. It is true that the report is being put into electronic format and going into the Internet, but it has taken a fair amount of human resources and financial resources to put that together. The work is continuing.
Further Return To Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1167
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Second supplementary. Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1167
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can appreciate that it does take a lot of work to put this together. There is no doubt about it. I think we have to remember that this is a very useful publication for a lot of individuals throughout the territories. It is a matter of accountability too because for me, I can see what is happening and I can direct my questions when I have concerns about things. Again, it is a matter of being transparent for the public.
My question, Mr. Speaker, is in the area of the volume of the numbers of sole-sourced and negotiated contracts that we are letting as published in this book. I am wondering if the Deputy Premier can commit to me that they will look at this and look at the possibility of reducing the number of sole-sourced and negotiated contracts. I appreciate that there are cases where there is need for sole-sourced and negotiated. I would like a commitment from the Deputy Premier to start reducing the number of sole-sourced and negotiated contracts. Thank you.
-- Applause
Supplementary To Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1167
The Deputy Speaker John Ningark
Thank you. Deputy Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Question 480-13(4): Report On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1167
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, as we have told Members in the House many times before, there are three ways that the government awards contracts. The most used one is the public tender process and that is a large percentage of the work that we do. Then there is the sole source system which has very specific criteria and which is governed by the Financial Administration Act and the contract regulations require criteria such as urgency and the number of firms that are available to do such work. The final one which I think is the one that creates some controversy is the negotiated contracts. The number that I have tabulated from that report indicates that nine percent of the total dollars are in the negotiated format. That is one area that we will be looking at and I think we will be discussing later when the motion is put forward to start talking about a negotiated contracts policy.