Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Bromley on October 26, 2009, regarding details on contracts awarded to former Ministers.
It is worth noting the contractors’ roles were not restricted to singular or discrete issues but, rather, were focused on maintaining and advancing the GNWT’s relations with Canada on a variety of issues vital to the interest of NWT residents and critical to the GNWT’s role in the federation.
The contractors helped build relationships and offered advice so the GNWT could build on existing progress and advance key priorities with other governments.
Since the beginning of the 16th Legislative
Assembly the GNWT has advanced four key
political priorities with the federal government: the Mackenzie Gas Project, infrastructure investment, devolution and resource revenue sharing, and hydro development.
We have secured real benefit for the NWT from Canada’s Economic Action Plan and stimulus programs. We were one of the first jurisdictions in Canada to receive approval for Building Canada projects, which we have leveraged to record capital spending to help blunt the effect of the economic downturn.
The receipt and payment of invoices from the contractors indicated the acceptance of their work, based on the terms of their contracts.