Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess the member is correct; this initiative was an inter-departmental initiative, although RWED chairs the committee. I want to indicate that we're not talking about an exact science here. What we're aiming at is 50 percent of the contracting by value going to the Gwich'in within the Gwich'in settlement area over a five-year period. I guess the way we see the process going is that we would identify projects, which we're in the process of doing now, and then our government would meet with the Gwich'in and review the projects and identify which ones the Gwich'in would be interested in. Then we would follow the negotiated policy guidelines of the government. If the expectation is it would be cost competitive, the 50 percent that is not negotiated would go out to competition. If Gwich'in businesses were successful in obtaining part of the additional 50 percent through the tendering process, that would be counted as part of the overall objective of 50 percent over five years. So that's the way we see it operating. Thank you.
Mr. Bob McLeod on Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
In the Legislative Assembly on March 5th, 2003. See this statement in context.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 4th, 2003
Page 528
Bob McLeod
See context to find out what was said next.