Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too have a question for the Minister of Public Works regarding the BIP process and the precedent that this government is trying to set for negotiated contracts, policies and procedures that we have in place.
Mr. Speaker, one thing I would like to know from the Minister is how this precedent can be read and how it could be a bad precedent for this government.
Presently under the land claims agreements, the Inuvialuit, through participation agreements and also through the Gwich'in Economic Measures Agreement, the agreements say the government shall consult with those organizations when any development, modification through preferential contracts, policies or procedures are being conducted.
I would like to ask the Minister, have you consulted with these organizations, knowing that this precedent undermines the BIP process, the negotiated contract process and the sole-sourced contracting process?