Louis Sebert

Mr. Speaker, this morning CBC published an article quoting from oral questions yesterday. The article repeats a misstatement that I made during my reply to oral question 670-18(2). I would like to take an opportunity to correct the record. Quoting from unedited Hansard, I said:

“I understand that there was a careful evaluation of the bid made by the Power Corporation. The bid from Virdi was the lowest rated, and among the factors looked at was price.”

What I should have said was that Virdi were the highest rated, lowest bidder. I apologize for any misunderstanding this has caused. Thank you, Mr...

Mr. Speaker, obviously, that is to be determined, but I am not expecting that that would be the case. As mentioned earlier, Virdi, the bidder, the successful bidder, will compensate for the additional costs that I mentioned earlier, so we are still expecting this contract to be well under the other bids.

In the brief time since yesterday afternoon, no, I have not ascertained what those costs will be, but I am looking into it.

Mr. Speaker, it is conceded that tax and lease rates are controversial in that they can be different in different areas in the sense that, certainly with respect to taxation of properties outside settled boundaries of communities, that is often the subject or sometimes the subject of a treaty or settled land claim. As to progress with respect to those unsettled claims, perhaps that question could be best addressed to the Minister for DAAIR.

Yes. The rate is determined on the assessed value which is established by the Department of MACA.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, the company, Virdi, which is a very reputable firm, has been in the business for many years, supplies American military among others, has agreed to cover those costs. I do not have a detailed list of the costs, but I can seek that from the Power Corporation.

The company that did win the bid, Virdi Power, is a company very well known in the industry. I understand that there was a careful evaluation of the bid made by the Power Corporation. The bid from Virdi was the lowest rated, and among the factors looked at was price.

I simply don't have that information in front of me. I am not certain how the contract was set up, whether it was denominated in Canadian or American funds or dollars. I will look into it. I doubt there will be any supplementary appropriation required.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. I only became aware of this issue today after listening to the news on the CBC this morning. I will undertake to request the figures from the Power Corporation and will, upon receipt, share them with the Member opposite. Thank you.

I think we're talking about two things here: taxes and lease rates. The lease rates, as I say, are based on 10 per cent of the assessed value of the land, and that is consistent throughout the Northwest Territories. They are different things, obviously, taxes and leases, as anybody who owns property knows, and 10 per cent of the assessed value of the land, I suggest, would be a reasonable rental or lease rate.