Mr. Speaker, where there is a major contract, like providing 45 homes for two years, the government should first consult with northern contractors to see if anyone can do the job. The government has not done that. In fact, they have been putting off paving the way for northern businesses to discourage them. Mr. Speaker, we have a business right here in the North who could do the job on budget, on time and create jobs in the process, but not only do they not get the benefit of a BIP, they don't even get the courtesy of prior notice and that is wrong and the government has to change that.

Mr. Speaker, our northern businesses stay in business through the good times and bad and when there is an opportunity of a real project that they can sink their teeth into, those projects are allowed to float right over their heads, straight down south and the Cabinet sits around justifying it.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I know what you would say if the Fort McPherson Tent and Canvas Shop were denied a contract to manufacture 100 mega-sized tents because it is cheaper to get them done in China and not even be given the chance to look into the project. So, Mr. Speaker, I know that you would not stand for it. You would hold the House down for a week to stop it, and I don't think we should allow this to happen, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---Applause