David Ramsay

I’d like to ask the Premier who was on the review team reviewing those RFPs.

On a construction infrastructure project like the Deh Cho Bridge, I’m just wondering, in terms of management, construction management, corporate management, things like that, typically what would a project like that encounter in terms of a percentage of cost. If we’re looking at close to $30 million on construction management, construction overhead, to me that number seems a little bit inflated and it’s close to 15 percent of the total project costs. I’m just wondering, is that industry norm or standard or how do we explain that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to continue asking questions about sole-source contracts that the government has recently entered into. I guess the first question that I probably should ask the Premier about is I’m wondering if the contract to BDK Consulting and Communications for work provided for the cultural component of our participation at Vancouver 2010, was that contract sole sourced and how much was it for?

I thank Mr. Neudorf for that. On the breakdown of the $15 million, though, if you look at the projected estimate, February 2010, if $5.5 million is going toward interest, where’s the other $9.5 million going? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Public Works whether or not his Cabinet colleagues are all fully aware of the policies that are on the Public Works website when it comes to sole sourcing contracts, and whether or not they have actually read that section of the website. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

I thank the Minister for that. The next question I’d have for the Minister: in sole-sourcing contracts, when sole-sourcing contracts are being considered, I’m just wondering if the Minister can let me know if that’s considered to be a best practice by the department. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a couple of things on the Department of Justice. I have talked to the Minister about the promotion and the way that aboriginal employees in the corrections system can expect to move their careers along. We’ve had a back and forth here last week on a situation that I’ve encountered with a constituent. I know the department is doing its best to try to recruit aboriginal people into the corrections field, but you have to nurture, foster and develop these employees so that they can ultimately take on mid-management and senior management positions within corrections...

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. We’re back on page 6. We’re still on page 6. Mr. Menicoche is asking whether or not the information package the Minister gave committee today can be shared publicly. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to use my Member’s statement to again draw attention to this Cabinet’s increasing practice of awarding lucrative contracts to former senior public servants without any competitive process.

In a reply to a written question asked by Mr. Bromley and tabled in this House earlier this session, the government highlighted an alarming number of contracts that have been awarded to former senior bureaucrats on a sole-sourced basis. The Premier told us in the House that such contracts are justified because they are a way to ensure that our most talented people earn a living...