Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member said the government has taken a position that the proponents were all advised that an inverse ratio would be used. That's not the case. This was not a situation where the RFP was identified that an inverse ratio would be provided. According to the BIP monitoring office, that is not an unusual process to use when a fixed price or a set price is used in an RFP. So when you advertise that you are looking for a fixed price, it's quite common to use the inverse ratio.

According to Public Works, this methodology is not prejudicial to northern proponents because the cost of infrastructure is accounted for in the evaluation of the value of northern and local goods and services. In terms of the BIP preference, that was reviewed as well. The way in which that was calculated in this case for Northstar, and I am advised that there was a mathematical error found in the analysis, but it actually worked to the benefit of Northstar.

So I am afraid that while there is an assertion here being made that this is not fair and not right, the advice that we have gotten from Public Works is that it's quite standard and that, in fact, it doesn't prejudice northern contractors.