Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in order for the inspections to take place, you need the project officer on site, along with the client who will be there, to ensure that they sign off all inspection documents at every level of construction, so that they know the work has been done under the proper construction guidelines, and making sure that the product, at the end of the day, has been inspected all the way through, so we don't have problems where we have units inspected after construction and realize that you have shingles on the roof that you can't see, or you don't know what's behind the walls. It's important that you do inspections at each stage. It's important to note, Mr. Speaker, that the project manager has to be on site, along with the contractor, to sign these things off at every stage. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad that there is involvement by the contractor, and the corporation, but, quite often, Mr. Speaker, the client is going to be the owner of the home, and will make mortgage payments. Anybody who is building their home is involved in the process, as well, even if they have a general contractor building their house. This is quite

similar. So can the Minister of the Housing Corporation make provision that the clients are involved in the construction, and inspection, of their home as it's being built? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will definitely look into that for the Member, and make sure we have that with regard to the inspection documents.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of ITI. I would first like to thank the Minister for going forward and requesting the audit of the oil and gas contracts that took place this past summer. I must say that I find the audit quite alarming. It's quite obvious to me that the department failed miserably in performing basic contract administration. How this continued for seven years is anyone's guess. The fact that they got away with it causes me a great deal of concern. I would like to do a bit of math here. A new department, plus a new DM, plus a new Minister, plus a retired bureaucrat, equals zero responsibility. What steps is the Minister currently taking to ensure contracts administered by his department are sound and follow contract regulations? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure the math adds up, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for recognizing that when there was public concern, I called an audit immediately, to ensure that there was no wrongdoing, and to find out what was going on. I want to indicate to the House that we take accountability and transparency very seriously, and that's exactly why we looked into this. I would acknowledge that our contract administration was lax over that period. We have taken steps to improve that. I think the contract registry will shed a lot of light on procurement in general. I think that's a very important tool. We do have delegation instruments. I can safely say that all departments have delegated the authority for various levels of contracts down into their departments. It simply wouldn't be feasible for Cabinet to review all contracts, regardless of their amounts. So we have all done that, but it is still important to recognize that, at the end of the day, the Minister is accountable and responsible. I accept that, and will certainly account for what has happened here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister's math lesson. I still am of the opinion that it doesn't quite add up. The Minister spoke of the fact that the government is accountable, open, transparent, honest; all the key catch phrases. I think the contract registry belongs in FMBS. Given the fact that the Minister stood up in the House here today, and said contract administration was lax in his department over that period of time, I would like to see it moved out of there and into FMBS where it belongs. I would like to ask the Minister if he will do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the House knows, our department is currently the keeper of this registry. We've done some work with the contractor in building it, but it's simply a service on behalf of all the other departments. We provide this contract registry; all the departments contribute to it. It could be housed in any number of departments. I think committee has made a recommendation to such an effect, and I am sure this government will consider that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the Minister that it is paid for by all departments. To me, it does not belong in ITI. It belongs in FMBS. Could the Minister let me know if any direct federal funding was involved in paying for the contracts under the review of this audit? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are flipping back and forth here between a couple of issues, but if I follow the Member's line of questioning, the issue is to the Keyscarp contracts. I don't believe there was any federal funding. That was GNWT funding of about $500,000 over a period of seven years, as I indicated earlier. I appreciate your suggestion earlier, Mr. Speaker, that we be very careful when speaking to documents that aren't in front of the House. This one isn't, but I would say that I have made it available to any Member who is interested. I have provided it to the media, and any member of the public who would like a copy, I can provide that, as well. I take your point about speaking to the specifics of the document when it's not before the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My apologies. I am trying to get in as many questions as I can here, as question period has expired. One of the more alarming things in that audit was there was a change order for the contract in 2002-03 for the amount of $25,000. There were no reasons given for this increase, or the changes associated with that increase. Can the Minister explain to me, under what circumstances can somebody just change a sole-source contract and increase that contract by, in this instance, $25,000? How can that happen? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Generally, for a contract of this nature, there could be a change order, and it would be approved by the same contracting authority that approved the original contract. At this point in time, it was a director level in my department. I have spoken with my deputy minister, upon taking control of the department. The deputy currently would make a decision of this nature, and I would be fully apprised of it. I think the issue here, that the audit points to, is that the change order to the contract was not well documented, and there isn't an indication of why it was done. As I have already admitted, the contracting procedure of the day left something to be desired and that's why, going forward, we've improved it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Time for question period has expired. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Ms. Lee on October 17, 2005, regarding day care services.

1. When is the last time the ECE staff went into Lutselk'e to look at the day care program and spaces?

The regional early childhood consultant last visited the Tinkering Tots Day Care in Lutselk'e on Thursday, October 13, 2005.

2. When they did, what did they find and what did they do?

The consultant met with the coordinator, four members of staff, and a representative of the Lutselk'e Dene Band. A range of topics was discussed, including the previous early childhood inspection; the health, safety and cleanliness of the premises; training opportunities for staff; programming ideas; and support and resources available from the consultant. The consultant also responded to questions regarding the funding received from ECE, and provided assistance with reporting requirements.

Mr. Speaker, both the current facility and a potential new one suggested by the band were discussed. The proposed alternative space is currently a building that is in poor repair and would require a substantial financial investment to ensure it meets fire and health requirements. The consultant clarified that if the community wishes to look into the use of this building as a day care, then the fire marshal and environmental health officer would need to be contacted for direction on the required renovations.

3. What are other communities in the NWT without day care programs, and what does the department plan to do to address those?

Mr. Speaker, there are six small communities in the NWT that are without licensed early childhood programs: Colville Lake, Jean Marie River, Trout Lake, Kakisa, Nahanni Butte, and Enterprise.

Early childhood programs are initiated by local organizations in response to community-specific needs. Licensed early childhood programs are operated by local community groups. Regional early childhood consultants are available to provide assistance to all licensed early childhood programs, and to any community group that is interested in developing and operating such a program.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.