Maybe I can’t make it any more clear from this side of the House, which is what’s wrong with our contract in this particular regard? We keep asking why doesn’t the department, and use our legal division in the justice system to implement and force this contractor to comply with the contract. The simple ask is this: What’s the problem with our contract that we’re being held hostage by paying more?

This contract dates back a number of years. I wouldn’t be able to comment on the decision of the previous government.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These words will sound familiar to the Minister, but what’s the point of having a contract if the Minister isn’t going to be responsible? Therefore, the question simply is: Who is responsible for the failure of the implementation of this contract? We need a name and someone to take responsibility. I’m sure that sounds familiar.

I’m responsible for decisions made during my tenure as Minister of Transportation. This is a decision that I have made, with the support of my Cabinet colleagues, to move this project forward to ensure that the bridge is complete in November. This was the best course of action that the government could take at this time. It’s not easy coming back and asking for more money, but this is the best that we can do. I assure

Members that we are doing all we can to ensure that the project is complete this November and that we get the budget surety and certainty that we’re after.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask questions of the Minister of Health and Social Services on the drug purchasing policies, bulk purchasing policies. I understand that the western provinces announced last year that they had an agreement and arrangement for bulk purchases of drugs to cut down the costs. I’m wondering – we heard yesterday that we are at the table with the provinces – have we signed on with that deal. Are we able to take advantage of that deal as several Members of the House recommended some time before that deal was made?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are part of the rest of the provinces in any sort of bulk purchase of pharmaceuticals that is negotiated.

Is that now in place? What are the provinces that are part of that deal and associated with that? Maybe I’ll leave it at that for now.

Yes, that is in place now. All provinces and territories are part of the deal and I believe at this time there is only one drug where they are able to buy in bulk at this time. Just one.

My original question was: Are we part of the western provinces bulk purchasing deal? I assume they have a bulk purchasing deal that deals with more than one drug, but I would also be interested in what our savings are with the one drug the Minister mentioned.

I don’t know what the savings are on the bulk purchase of that particular drug to the Northwest Territories. I know there is a plan to add more drugs onto this bulk purchase across the province. I think it’s being led by maybe, I believe, British Columbia that has the lead role, but I wasn’t aware that it was only the western p provinces. I can get that information on that specific project and let the Member know.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for those comments. I have to say

that it’s very upsetting, that despite this opportunity being brought up repeatedly by this side of the House, that we are not taking advantage of these opportunities. I would like to get full information provided by the Minister on what exactly we are doing, what agreements we’re part of now, what our plan is in the future, and why we are not part of the western Ministers bulk purchasing plan that would yield significant savings. Would the Minister commit to providing that in lieu of the lack of action on this?

I know that the department is developing a Pharmaceutical Strategy for the NWT health system, so I’m sure that I would be able to get the information. Because I don’t have the information here specific to the western provinces bulk purchase of drugs doesn’t mean that we’re not engaged in it. What I do know is that we’re engaged with the federal one, and from what I heard was that at this time it’s some process to add drugs to this and at this time there is only one that they’re able to achieve across the territory. But if the western provinces are moving through quicker and they’re having better success, then I’m sure we’re a part of that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Yes, it could have been the Minister. I feel that we’ve been in this position a number of times before and we’re now over a barrel again. I think some Members may know the term BOHICA – bend over here it comes again. I feel that’s where we are.

I’d like to ask the Minister if he can explain to the public how we got to this place where we are. How we got to a situation where we are again having to pay more money. A year ago or so we were asked for money, we gave up more money. As a government and as Members we approved it, and things were rosy then, everything was going to be wonderful. We are now in this situation. How did we get here?

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, many of the decisions the Member talks

about were decisions of previous governments and, yes, some people ask questions and some remain silent when decisions are made by government, and that happens. We got to the position we’re in today. The original budget was $165 million. During the life of the 16

th Assembly there was a decision to

put another $15 million into the project. Late last year, because of a year-long delay, there was another $10 million decision, and today we’re faced with the $7.2 million to $9.5 million ask of government, to see the completion of the project. Again, we’ve negotiated. In that settlement we’ve negotiated an end to the construction claims on that project. It is, for us, a way forward and we have to continue looking forward and not backwards. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister. I’m hearing the same thing over and over. I’m hearing we have to get the project done, we have to move forward. I agree, but I don’t necessarily agree that we need to spend more money to do it. I have the same question that has already been asked and I have yet to hear an answer that makes any sense to me. We had, apparently, a negotiated, guaranteed price for this particular project. Sometimes the parameters change. I understand that. But I would like to know from the Minister what happened to that negotiated guaranteed price. Why has it gone out the window? What changed that made us need to spend more money? Thank you.

Again, the decision to negotiate the construction contract originally with Ruskin was not a decision that I made. I’m responsible for decisions that I’m making and this Cabinet is making in regard to this project. Again, in answering other Members, it’s quite clear, if you look at the options that presented themselves, what this government should do. I’m not sure what Members opposite would consider a prudent thing to do. Just throw our hands up and let the project mire in this long, drawn out claims and fight with the contractor, and be locked in a legal battle for years to come and the bridge not be opened this fall, or we could put our differences aside, come up with a negotiated settlement that would see the completion of the bridge and negotiate the claims that were outstanding, and not be faced with at least a $9 million hit when the bridge wouldn’t open this November. Our intent is to open the bridge in November. That is the way forward and we will continue to pursue that. Thank you.