Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday's Yellowknifer had an article about the NWT Construction Association and their opposition to the negotiated contracts for government projects. Mr. Speaker, I was surprised to see my name included in a list of seven MLAs opposed to negotiated contracts.
When I was approached by the Construction Association about where I stood on the issue of negotiated contracts, I responded that there have been a lot of issues with the way DPW does their contracts, and it is time that this government really looks at whether the process is benefiting the North or not. One suggestion I had made for the Construction Association was that perhaps they could be given notice of impending contracts before negotiations start. I would like to make it clear that my issue is not with negotiated contracts. In fact, I have supported negotiated contracts in my own riding since I was elected. I can name three of them. One was the Bay Island Bridge, the other one was the Edzo fire hall and the other one is the winter road construction between the smaller communities. Mr. Speaker, by supporting them, I feel I am encouraging local employment.
My issue is with the inconsistent process this government uses to award contracts. It seems as though each department follows its own regulations as to how to hand out contracts. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of controversy over how the government selects and how it runs projects. For example, how the government handled the cost overruns for the new correctional facility in Yellowknife. That made a lot of people question the government's ability to plan and follow a budget. Many ridings lost out on opportunities for services because so much money was eaten up by the cost overruns for this facility. The multi-million dollar government contract that was recently awarded to Buffalo Airways angered Northerners who felt that they did not have the opportunity to be considered for this contract. These are just two of them.
Mr. Speaker, one part of being an open and accountable government is to have regulations which are consistent across departments and which are clear to the companies bidding on the contracts. Mr. Speaker, I think the way contracts are awarded needs to be a fair process for all Northerners and that they benefit all communities and also the aboriginal governments that we have agreements with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause