Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There were five to six million dollars negotiated contracts with other Aboriginal companies in the Monfwi and Nahendeh ridings. I see no issue with this if it benefits local people, Mr. Speaker, but there must be fairness. If it can be done in the other regions, surely it can be done in mine, and again, in the Sahtu, one little negotiated contract for $200,000 was awarded.
Mr. Speaker, there is a long-term trend to this. In 2008 this government negotiated a $28 million contract here in Yellowknife. Surely some other companies would have loved to have bid on that work, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to remind the government that employment in my region is epidemic and I don’t see much to strengthen or to stabilize our economy.
Mr. Speaker, in our land claim, economic benefits was our goal in our settlement. I’d like to remind the government of this too. I’d also like to remind the government of the first goal of the Negotiated Contracts Policy: benefits for business or residents, which could not be reasonably expected to achieve through competitive contracting.
I’ll ask the Premier later, Mr. Speaker, on questions regarding the Negotiated Contracts Policy.