Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to table the document here that is very timely and addresses some of the aspects of our exercise underway in developing a Sustainable Economic Development Strategy. This work is put forward by Senator Nick Sibbeston, who is in the House with us today. It’s entitled, Plugging into the Future, Executive Summary. It describes some of the real success stories that science and technology have or might soon provide to northern communities and includes a vision of where we might go from here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 9-17(4), NWT Main Estimates, 2013-2014; Public Works and Services, Education, Culture and Employment.

By the authority given to me as Speaker, by Motion 1-17(4), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House, with Mr. Dolynny in the chair.

I would like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We have before us Tabled Document 9-17(4), NWT Main Estimates, 2013-2014; and Bill 1, Tlicho Statutes Amendment Act. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider Tabled Document 9-17(4), NWT Main Estimates, 2013-2014, with the continuation of Public Works and Services and as well as Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you.

Thank you. Does committee agree?

Agreed. We will commence after a short break.

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Mr. Abernethy, would you care to introduce your witnesses to the Chamber?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With me today are Paul Guy, who is the deputy minister of Public Works and Services, and Laurie Gault, who is the director of the Technology Service Centre.

Thank you, Ms. Gault and Mr. Guy. Welcome back to the House. Committee, we’re on page 7-13 on directorate, and with questions I have Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just building off and continuing with the discussion before we concluded last night, Mr. Hawkins was asking a question about subcontractors and, actually, last night I had my iPad open to some specific e-mails that I was getting from some of the northern subcontractors that were listed under southern contractors bills for proposals in terms of getting some of those BIP points. In fact I had some e-mails from subcontractors who were saying that they didn’t get to see the proposal upon initial verbal agreements, seeing the proposal before it went in for the request. Just some concerns. This was after I’d made a Member’s statement in the House sometime last year.

One of the suggestions that were brought forward from a subcontractor, because he didn’t get utilized, could be the way they were described in the contracts with the general contractor, and they wanted to know if the government does have a policy or something in place that would get the subcontractors’ feedback and not just the general contractor. I do understand that the department and government work with the primary contractor, but can this government start developing a practice where they get information, feedback and reporting from the subcontractor to ensure that the primary contractor actually uses them specifically for the jobs that had won them the contract and had given them the extra Business Incentive Policy points outlined in the proposal? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We’re continually looking for ways to improve our processes and practice in the Government of the Northwest Territories, in particular in Public Works and Services. To that end, I’ve set up regular meetings with the Architects and Construction Association as well as the chambers of commerce, in order to get continual feedback and input from

them on different processes in the Government of the Northwest Territories.

With respect to input from some of the subs that may be utilized in contracts, we’d be open to hearing anything they have to say. We do deal with the primary, but just for the record, when it comes to large projects as well as small projects, where there’s a commitment to use local vendors that have been included by name in the request for proposals, we do require the primaries to provide us with statistics and information on the usage of the individuals they’ve identified.

For instance, on East Three School we have a pretty good reconciliation from the primary on the number of local hires they made, the number of people they hired in the Inuvik area, the number of hours that were put in by local individuals. So in short, we’re always open to hearing from the vendors. They can deal with our Public Works staff in each of the regions who are managing the individual files to provide the input and, as always, we are open to thoughts and suggestions to help us improve our processes as we move forward as a government and a department.

Thank you. In regard to hearing from our vendors and the subcontractors, what would be the right way of getting that input from our subcontractors? Is there a complaints process or is there a process for concern, either on the webpage or a file or application that they would have to submit to government? Thank you.

Thank you. That’s assuming that there are complaints. This isn’t just about complaints, this is about learning best practices and getting the information that will help us improve processes. I would encourage any subcontractor that’s got any issue with a particular file to talk to the contract authority for that file. Each file is administered by different people in Public Works and Services. So I would encourage them to identify the appropriate contract authority and have a conversation with them.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Moving on with questions I have Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a drilldown on some of these problems here a little further. Would the Minister provide his definition, or I should say his department’s definition of using a bond versus a deposit? So maybe if he could divide the two, explain what they are and why you would use one over the other.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. For a specific definition of those two I will go to the deputy minister.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Guy.

Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the application of these issuance of bonds or deposits, is there a difference between the percentage or value we would hold back in these circumstances, and maybe if they can provide some examples why you would use what percentage where or what low percentage or high percentage depending on the case. Thank you.