David Ramsay

Thank you, Madam Chair. The issue that Mr. Dolynny brings up is a good one. I think it’s a discussion that all Members probably should have. From my perspective, we stand up as Ministers and if a department’s falling down in an area or has questions in an area, we answer that on the floor of the House or through the business plans. That has been the process. It’s been political, questions asked, issues addressed through the department and that goes down through the corporate management of the department to whatever manager or director is responsible for a certain area. If we want to delve a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, getting back to the head injuries, DOT does not regulate the use of helmets for uses like with snowmobiles, bicycles, skateboards or ice skates, in-line skates or skis. That is left up to the municipalities to deal with and that’s how that’s completed.

On a going-forward basis, DOT has initiatives under the Healthy Choices Framework. I know the Member talked of the Use Your Head Campaign that was used last year with a commercial with an Aboriginal elder wearing a helmet, a public awareness campaign. We also help with giving out funding to communities outside of...

There wasn’t a competition, no. The stipulation for interest earned through the NWT Opportunities Fund was to be earmarked for economic opportunities and pursuits in the territory. We are currently putting together a proposal through FMB to look at what we do with the remaining balance that’s there. As soon as we get that proposal complete, we’d certainly look at taking it to FMB and Members will also get to see that proposal.

It was a payment when the government decided to roll up the NWT Opportunities Fund. That loan came back and the interest that accrued on it was in the account. So, yes, the answer would be yes.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. When DOT awards a contract, obviously they are going to go back to the company that won the contract and do a technical review of the information that was provided in the tender documents to ensure the due diligence is done to ensure the work can be performed as stated in the tender, and in the case of the electrical contract for the bridge, that was done. We haven’t had Can-Traffic do work for us before, so we were extra diligent on trying to find out and get the references, and do that technical review before that contract was awarded. Madam Speaker, any information...

Madam Speaker, they were not credited with any northern content, yet again, they were $800,000 below the next… And this is after the BIP adjustment. They were $800,000 below the next bidder, saving taxpayers’ money.

As to whether or not Appendix B was filled out, I can get the Member a yes or no answer to that. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This tender was won fair and square. It was won by Can-Traffic at a cost savings of about $800,000 to the taxpayer here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Again, I think this is an important topic and it certainly is something I will agree to go back to the department to get them to have a look at. Education is a good thing, getting posters out, getting community announcements out on the benefits of composting. I think most people would understand what those benefits are. We need to do that and we’ll take a look at that, and I thank the Member for raising that issue today.

We’ve done a number of things. We’ve had a number of meetings in the communities in the Sahtu. We’ve taken the Members from the Economic Development and Infrastructure committee on a fracking tour. There have been leaders from the Sahtu attend a fracking tour in Calgary as well. Sometime in April I’m hoping to get a group of business leaders from the Sahtu down to southeast Saskatchewan and into North Dakota to talk to Aboriginal leaders in Bakken about what has happened there, and how Aboriginal governments and leaders here in the Northwest Territories can translate what is happening in the...

As evidenced through this budget that was just presented to the House, we are taking very seriously what is happening in the Sahtu, not just on the economic side but also the social side of policing, education, things like that. In my department we’re looking at adding a business development officer in Norman Wells to help address the issues surrounding business development and opportunities for people to get into business in the Sahtu. So we are answering the call when it comes to what is happening in the Sahtu. Thank you.