Monsieur le President, I would like to recognize Felix Lockhart, as well. He conducted sort of an informal interview with me in about 1986 in the restaurant of the Pinecrest Hotel in Fort Smith. I had just started with the Dene Nation. Somehow, I think I passed the quiz and I'm still here. Condolences to Felix and his family for the great contribution that Sandra made to all our lives. Merci.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Robert Bouchard, a fellow Hay Riveran. He did recognize me in the House, and now I'm returning the favour. Welcome to the House, one of the Fab Five, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, thanks for being here with us. It's always great to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Masi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Justice. We have been discussing the need for new approaches to reporting sexual assault through much of this Assembly, and earlier this week the Minister tabled a letter to me about our most recent round of questions and answers in June. Today, I have some follow-up questions. The department planned to hear from stakeholders in mid-June. Can the Minister tell us about the outcome of that meeting? Mahsi.

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise that the meeting referred to did take place in mid-June and was well attended. The department is in the process of finalizing a document on what was heard and outcomes from the two-day meetings. I do not yet have that document, but, as I say, I believe the meeting was successful dealing with these very important issues.

I look forward to seeing the document when it's complete. My next question is whether any of the participants disagreed with finding a way to establish third-party reporting of sexual assault and third-party review of police handing of complaints.

As I mentioned, the meeting was well attended. I am not in a position to answer the question of the Member opposite at this time, simply because I do not know.

Thank you to the Minister for that response. Given what the Minister does know, what is the status of this issue now that this Assembly comes to an end? How will it be carried over?

As I said, the department is in the process of finalizing a document as to what was heard, and, that document, I can commit to sharing that document. Ultimately, the document may be tabled. However, that would require it to be translated, as I understand it, I am informed, into French, and that probably would take place in the next Assembly.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Minister for that information. My understanding, then, is that we will see something before the end of this Assembly. Do I have that right?

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Tuesday, the Minister of Infrastructure said, "What BC is trying to do, I am not even sure if they are doing it. I have to double check." Can the Minister tell us if he or his department has reached out to BC government on how they deal with out-of-province contractors? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After our conversation the other day, I talked to my assistant deputy minister, and she is in conversations with BC, and we are actually gathering some more information on internal trade on this issue.

I am hoping the Minister can share that with me when he gets it together. Mr. Speaker, the Minister also quoted, "I have a lot of opportunities to speak to different people about BIP." Has the Minister spoken to northern contractors, specifically those in the southern part of the NWT, about their concerns regarding the new way the Business Incentive Policy has been implemented?

For the last three years that I have had this file, I have very limited conversation with industry around the BIP policy, as I said. In particular in the Member's riding, I cannot recall any of the major contractors in his region reaching out to me and having a discussion about it.

The Minister said, "A lot of people do not understand our BIP adjustment is subject to [the] Canadian free trade agreements and international [...] agreements." Can the Minister advise us how BIP has an impact on the Canadian free trade and international agreements moving forward?

When we are negotiating these agreements, internal trade or external international trade agreements, BIP is something, to put in simple terms, that we try to protect for the residents of the Northwest Territories. These things are negotiated through reciprocity agreements, and some provinces do not like the fact that we have this, in particular a couple of western provinces that are totally against it. However, we have been able to negotiate them into it to protect northern businesses and residents.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the Minister providing the answers to us here today. I realize the Minister thinks that the BIP policy is probably one of the best policies that the Government of the Northwest Territories ever created. I would have to agree. It is a great policy in the original state. However, it has been changed to what some northern contractors that I have talked to don't think is a great policy, and we are seeing more and more southern companies come north and taking away contracts and jobs. Will the Minister be willing to look at the policy that was originally in the books and try to bring it back forward?