Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have three returns to oral questions, the first one here was asked by Mr. Morin and is in regard to the GNWT tendering process.

The Member from Tu Nedhe asked about the expression of interest advertisement that appeared in the Globe and Mail on July 21st, 1999. This ad was designed specifically to solicit interest from registered architectural firms who possess extensive experience in designing podular direct correctional institutions. It was placed after consultation with the NWT Architectural Society. For clarification, I can inform the Member that subsequent to a thorough evaluation process, the Government of the Northwest Territories will provide the northern consultant community with a registry of qualified sub-consultants with a proven background in the complexities of such a program specific facility. In his question, the Member inquired about the tender that was placed in the Globe and Mail. It is important to note that an expression of interest process is different from a tender and does not commit the Government of the Northwest Territories to any contractual obligation whatsoever.

With respect to the sequence of events leading to the placement of the advertisement, I note that the Standing Committee on Government Operations was provided a draft of the supplementary appropriation bill on July 14th, and Minister Dent appeared before the committee to discuss this matter on July 16th, and the ad appeared on July 21st. The Minister of Finance, the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and myself have all noted that the committee should have been notified of the change in this project a few weeks earlier and have apologized for this inadvertent mistake. We intend to do better in this regard in the future.