This is page numbers 63 - 90 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 7th 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 social.

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Further Return To Question 22-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Question 22-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral Questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 22-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Question 22-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Premier indicate when he will be doing this and whether he will bring the results of that review to this House? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 22-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Question 22-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 22-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Question 22-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a commitment that we will look at this situation right away and we will bring it forward to the Members as soon as we can. I cannot put a time frame on it, I need to talk to the staff that are doing this kind of work and I will get that information to the Members of this House. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 22-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Question 22-13(7): GNWT Hiring Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral question. Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question will be for Mr. Antoine, the Premier. It is in relationship to my statement yesterday regarding negotiated contracts. I was very pleased to receive a letter, as I mentioned yesterday, from the Premier indicating that in December a committee was formulated of the deputies, senior representatives of the various government departments, to come up and formulate a review of the polices regarding negotiated contracts.

I am wondering if the Premier can tell us if he can commit to, once the recommendations come forward and the findings from that, if he will make that available to the stakeholders, Mr. Speaker? The people in the construction business, those that are consultants around the territories, the aboriginal leaders, and so forth; there are many people affected by such a policy and I understand the policy has been used for some economic stimulation and certainly regional stimulation from time to time. We need to have feedback from that on various stakeholders. I wonder if the Premier will commit to providing that to those stakeholders? Thank you

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Premier.

Return To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, once the review is done and the Cabinet has an opportunity to review it, we will share it with the Members of this House. Usually any information that comes to Members in this House finds its way into the public somehow or another, so I think that I can make that commitment to the honourable Member, that as soon as the Cabinet reviews this we will share it with the Members of this House. Subsequently, if it is approved by the Members we will share it with the stakeholders, too. Thank you.

Return To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral question. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr, Speaker. I think that is very good, I appreciate the response from the Premier on that, Mr. Speaker. The second item I referred to yesterday was the area of request for proposals which has been of concern specifically to me. I have had several organizations and several contractors get in touch with me in regards to the process. The principle problem that seems to be there is the feedback for the unsuccessful bidders; also, the transparency of that process in the end. Could the Premier make a commitment to expand the review by the senior officials of the departments to include the RFP process? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the request for proposals and what the honourable Member is asking in regard to transparency and getting feedback on the unsuccessful proposals that come forward, I would perhaps like to have an opportunity to review it. I think the Financial Management Board Secretariat is reviewing that now and will have something perhaps by the end of this month on the negotiated contracts. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly I appreciate that the negotiated contract process is underway but, as I said earlier, RFPs are also of concern out there. One of the areas, it is not just limited to the one area of feedback, but also the transparency and public understanding of what the successful bid was for. I wonder if I could repeat my earlier question, if the Premier will commit to having the deputy ministers' committee, or the senior officials committee, look at the RFP process as well? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Yes, Mr. Speaker, the question is to give the request for proposal, to see if it could be more transparent so that the unsuccessful proposals can get some feedback to see why they were not successful, and to give that as a task to the senior members that make up the committee. We will give that direction to them as well. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a great deal of information out there, there are national contracting process manuals, and so forth, used by various agencies, federal governments. I wonder if the Premier could tell us if his committee will also be reviewing other jurisdictions that use negotiated contracts and RFPs, so we get a complete national look at this and inject it into our system? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of whether this committee is looking into other jurisdictions on how to do their own contracting, the use of national standards or whatever. I will check into that and get back to the honourable Member. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Question 23-13(7): Negotiated Contract Policy Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 73

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral Question. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

Mark Evaloarjuk Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Justice. This winter I gave him a question on the firearms regulations, and I have not received an answer to this point. We were given a statement that the firearms regulations were implemented in December, 1998, to the year 2000. They were going to have information programs for the general public.

We were told in Igoolik the RCMP is responsible for the firearms implementation in our region. For that reason, we will have to pay some fees, maybe approximately $25. At first, it started off as $150, and then it came down to $50, and then when you pay that fee we will be given a workshop in our area, after we have paid for the workshop fees. I do not believe this is required in our region. We are told to learn how to handle our rifles. These people are not from the Northwest Territories and they seem to be more knowledgeable about how to handle firearms. I would like to know exactly what kind of arrangements there are for firearms regulations. Thank you. (Translation ends)

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Honourable Goo Arlooktoo.

Return To Question 24-13(7): Firearms Regulations Implementation
Question 24-13(7): Firearms Regulations Implementation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Alberta government is responsible

for the firearms regulations. They are applying to the Canadian government to appeal the firearms regulations and we will be involved, as well, with the Alberta government, as well as the Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario governments, to oppose this bill. We are not familiar at this time exactly as to how far they have gone to date with this opposition to the new firearms regulations in Canada. It is through the Canadian Supreme Court that it will take place and the hearing has not been set. What the honourable Member has asked, the question, I am not familiar at this time and when I know, then I will be able to answer his question. (Translation ends)

Return To Question 24-13(7): Firearms Regulations Implementation
Question 24-13(7): Firearms Regulations Implementation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.