David Krutko

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister if he could maybe direct his staff to avoid making those comments and to clarify that the position of this government is that negotiated contracts are the responsibility of Cabinet, not someone in the field, and that decision is made at the Cabinet table. I think it sends the wrong message and then you wonder why we’re having problems in the Inuvik region. I’d like to ask the Minister if he’d personally get involved or get his deputy involved to talk to the staff and notify them that they should not be making those comments to political leaders in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 8.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, yes, there is an MOU that used to work and which we find out today it doesn’t work. Also, in regards to the issues that I mentioned, this government has put forward a $100 million negotiating contract in Inuvik. Every negotiating contract has to be brought forward to Cabinet with a list of sub-contractors that are going to be used on that job site. There are companies working in Inuvik right now who weren’t on that original list. Again, that is a breach of our policies in government. In regards to the deal and in regards to Discovery Air deal, the $33 million deal, the government...

Committee agree the Minister brings in his witnesses?

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. We agreed prior to the break that we will begin with the NWT main estimates for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. At this time, I’d like to ask the Minister if he has opening statements or comments.

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 11-16(3), NWT Main Estimates 2009-2010, and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Committee agree?

Thanks, Mr. Minister. Next on the list I have Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe this is such a significant shift in government institutional change that it will have a major effect on the Government of the Northwest Territories’ ability to deliver programs and services, but more importantly to integrate those services into seven boards.

As I stated earlier, we have some 33 communities in the Northwest Territories. We have different institutions by way of housing authorities and DEAs. We also have regional bodies by way of divisional boards and regional health boards. I think as a government we realize that everyone has a significant role...

Thank you. Mr. Yakeleya.