Mr. Speaker, the intention here is to try to accommodate some of the corporations that are in the regions and small communities to get them involved in the business world. I think there are aspirations out there. Looking at the economy in the Northwest Territories, it has changed quite drastically in the last few years and we are out there in the world saying the GDP has grown 18 to 20 percent and I don't see it slowing down. It's increasing. With the amount of resource development that's going to happen, especially the pipeline, I think the future down the line is that there is going to be a lot of work in the North and we need to have the different companies that currently exist to continue to exist, so we could maybe benefit from it, as well as smaller communities that are aspiring to get into the business world. We need to do that. In the policy which, unfortunately, we haven't concluded, the discussion is that there has to be a certain period of life in a negotiated contract. I don't think the debate and discussion that we've had is that negotiated contracts can go on forever. There has to be a period of time during which the different companies should have reached a point to where they could have equal footing with other companies that have to compete. I think there will be a life to this negotiated contract. Thank you.
Jim Antoine on Question 292-14(6): Support For Long-term Northern Businesses
In the Legislative Assembly on June 10th, 2003. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question 292-14(6): Support For Long-term Northern Businesses
Question 292-14(6): Support For Long-term Northern Businesses
Item 6: Oral Questions
June 9th, 2003
Page 914
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
See context to find out what was said next.