Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about government support for the northern business community. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we heard Mr. Handley - actually many days - talk about the importance of jobs in our communities, in terms of how they contribute to the circulation of money, in other words the spin-off effect, where one job leads to another and another and so on. He's noted that the salaries circulate in local economies stimulating economic activity and growth. Mr. Speaker, the Minister and the government often talk about the need to support our northern business and the need for business development in the North. It's a constant theme we have heard, but is it any more than talk?

A few days ago, we spent a considerable amount of time talking about $1 million plus contract for computers that went south. Northern suppliers believe they could have filled the order. The Minister of Public Works justified the award in part because it would save money. He even complained that Members told him he should do things less expensively, so we shouldn't complain when he saves money.

Not long ago, Mr. Speaker, the government proposed changes to the BIP. When they were rolled out, the business community saw little to cheer about and told the government that. Nevertheless, the push to implement changes was brought forward, even though there was no economic justification for the changes presented. Again, we heard the new and improved BIP would save us money. At the last minute it was put off.

Mr. Speaker, last summer, the government waived the BIP on the second phase of the correctional centre, again to save money. When the smoke had cleared after the bids came in from that project, it is impossible to say there had been any significant savings. In fact, we may have lost money. Mr. Speaker, the government has never made a meaningful effort to figure out what the benefit of supporting northern business might be. Without quantifying the economic impact, how do we know which Minister is saying the right thing? We have Minister Handley talking about how important it is to support northern business and not even mentioning the $17,000 per person we get in transfer payments for every man, woman and child who lives here. Then we have Minister Steen suggesting that his top goal is to save money, even if that means sole-sourcing contracts to southern suppliers. Mr. Speaker, last year Cabinet approved waiving the BIP, again saying it was most important to save money. No wonder there is a crisis of confidence among business people in the NWT when it comes to the GNWT. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.