Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are in regards to my Member’s statement, but also this issue I have raised in the last setting of this Legislature but it looks like nothing has been done with it. Again, these contracts that are being let in our communities are not being taken advantage of by local contractors. If anything, it is benefitting the regional contractors who have an opportunity because the way the contracts are being let, which are basically supply, ship and erect contracts, are an advantage to the larger regional contractors in regards to having to bid in multiple contracts versus the local contractors in most cases bid only at the local level.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Housing in regards to the tendering process. I gave

the Minister a copy of the e-mail that I am talking about and he is aware of the issue. There are other avenues to be able to meet the same objective by way of invitational tenders in affected communities where those contracts are going to be let, have a negotiating contracting policy and also consider labour-only contracts which was the practice in the past which was helpful to communities. I would like to ask the Minister, why has this government not changed the practice that is being used today and knowing that this was raised in the House previously and that committee members have raised and have looked at those other options that would benefit small communities?