Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's difficult to know exactly where the Member is going with this question. I am not sure what bearing the BIP would have on this process. If the government was procuring something, then BIP would apply. Even with BIP application, we don't restrict southern companies, or Yukon companies, or Nunavut companies from bidding. They simply get the benefit of an added premium of 15 percent or 20 percent if the local allowance is included.
Mr. Speaker, I think it's important to keep in mind on $200 million worth of procurement last year by this government, there was a $200,000 some odd, in around there, BIP premium paid to northern companies. The reality is what you have, especially in the bigger centres, you have two, three or four BIP registered companies bidding against each other and the BIP is moot. It really doesn't come into play. So what we have found is on $200 million on procurement, $200,000 premium paid out. It isn't doing much and it's only having a bearing on government procurement. Let's talk about a benefit or incentive to all businesses in the North regardless of who they are doing business with, and that's what a tax cut would do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.