The privatization of petroleum products delivery was discussed during the review. The department was unaware that the Government of the Northwest Territories had received payment for petroleum products that were included in Nunavut assets when the two new territories were formed. The committee also learned that Cabinet has set criteria to guide the privatization of petroleum products and the department is exploring all options. Committee members have noted that several groups have expressed interest and encourage the department that this will be a public process. The government, at the request of the committee during the recent review of the 2000/2001 interim appropriation agreed that "if the petroleum products division was to be considered for sale, a call for proposals is publicly advertised, and the division be sold as a single entity", page 10, Review of the 2000/2001 Interim Appropriations, Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development.
The committee requested further information on who presently has fuel contracts, the terms of the fuel contracts and the amount of the contracts. The committee looks forward to further consultation as this process evolves.