Michael McLeod

The Member is right. There have been a number of challenges getting water taps put in, in a number — I think eight — of our communities. We looked at different ways to try to accommodate the communities by saving some costs or trying to have our projects fit within what we have in our budgets.

We wanted to look at a new process. And we’ve looked at a process which we refer to as the vertical integration of this project, which would include covering all aspects of delivering water plants, including the shipping, design, assembly, warranty and potentially even operating support.

It’s been a long...

Mr. Speaker, all the work that was done leading up to this contract, going to a request for proposals, was made available to all the proponents. In addition, we put in place a two-stage process to ensure due diligence. We had the use of an external party to chair the evaluation on both the request for qualifications and the request for proposals. That position would equate to what would be referred to as a fairness commissioner. Mr. Speaker, we also involved FMBS and Public Works, and we sought legal advice from the Department of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, this is a competitive procurement process that we have embarked on. The Member is asking questions for the details on the company that's bidding. At this time, I don't feel it’s appropriate to answer that.

I think the Member and all Members are aware we’re going under review at this time to see where we can place emphasis on new investments, new initiatives, and also going through analysis of where things can be reduced. It would be difficult for me to say at this point, until those processes are done, whether or not we’d be able to be in a position to put more investments into this area of volunteerism.

Mr. Speaker, I need more clarity on which project he’s referring to. We haven't awarded any contracts for bundled water plants as of yet.

Mr. Speaker, the answer to that question, of course, is no, we’re not sole-sourcing.

Mr. Speaker, the contract hasn’t been awarded. There is a fairness process that was put in place as part of this request for proposals, and we have an independent evaluation team, along with an independent evaluator, that is ensuring a fair process is there. We have provided all the information to all the proponents who took part. We have the Department of Justice, and we have three other departments that are working with us. The process is fair, Mr. Speaker.

However, the contract hasn’t been awarded, and it is difficult to speak to this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll have to inform the Member again that he’s not correct in assuming that the water plant contract has been awarded. Negotiations are still ongoing. There has been a company that has responded to our request for proposals that has contracted with us prior to this and along the same lines as what we have through our requests for proposals in dealing with water plants.

Mr. Speaker, it’s difficult to understand what the Member is asking.

This process that was undertaken was approved by cabinet. It was also presented to the Association of Municipalities, and we got a letter of support from every community involved. I think there has been a lot of awareness and a lot of support for the process that we've embarked on to try to get these water plants in the communities.

I’m trying to get on with it. We are quite excited about this new concept of bundling projects. We think we have to be creative and innovative as we move forward with some of our challenges facing some of our communities in terms of providing infrastructure. Designing, implementing, operating and all those things are some things that are challenging every community in terms of capacity and getting these projects underway.

This is a new way of doing business. I can understand some Members being concerned. However, negotiations are ongoing. The project hasn’t been signed off yet; we haven’t made...