Wally Schumann

As I said in the House the other day, the most important element for Members to understand is the context of what the Canada Free Trade Agreement is. As the Minister of internal trade and external trade, these things have to be negotiated with other governments when we are signing this agreement, and that is the only reason that this government can negotiate an exemption. That is where we have to deal with the other provinces and countries when we are doing these agreements, and that one exemption that we fight for all the time is the Business Incentive Policy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You see, this is what happens when someone gives a heads-up and you give a full-hearted answer. There is no cap or ceiling identified in the Northwest Territories Manufactured Products Policy. The Northwest Territories manufactured products, however, is pursuant to or enabled by the Business Incentive Policy, and that means, technically, the ceiling of $500,000 would also apply to manufacturing.

That said, our manufacturing policy only pertains to goods for the maximum bid adjustment of $500,000 to apply. We would need to be in the position of buying $16 million worth of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is one of the Member's favourite discussions that he is having on the floor of the House. To be honest with you, I can't even answer his question. If he would actually give someone a heads-up on a question, I might be able to answer it fully on the floor of this House, but the question that he is asking me right now, I have no idea. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 751-18(3): Former Northern Frontier Visitors' Centre." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Northwest Territories Manufactured Products Policy and the Business Incentive Policy follow the same principles of northern preference. However, our Manufactured Products Policy is an independent process and works slightly different. In order to be able to be purchased by the Government of the Northwest Territories under the manufactured policy, at least 25 percent of the product's value has to be created in the Northwest Territories by an eligible company registered under the Business Incentive Policy. Provided this requirement is met, the product can be priced up to 20 percent higher on...

I will take this question as notice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After our conversation the other day, I talked to my assistant deputy minister, and she is in conversations with BC, and we are actually gathering some more information on internal trade on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, our territory has no shortage of spectacular sights for visitors and residents to enjoy. Our territorial parks are the starting point for many looking to experience these world-class wonders.

Through the life of this government, and in line with our mandate, we have invested in enhancing these vital assets for the benefit of the growing contingent of tourists choosing the NWT, and our residents seeking to enjoy their recreational time.

With the construction season in full swing, many Northwest Territories residents are already seeing those investments in action. Today I would like...

We are talking apples and oranges here because on the local procurement, when we are going through procurement for the Northwest Territories, again, let's put it under $1 million. We use our BIP policy to ensure that the most money stays in the Northwest Territories through, as I said, locally used, local northern content, local business. That bid adjustment gives you the upper hand on someone from down south to bid on it. If we are talking about larger projects, say the Slave Geological Province or the Taltson project, the department certainly, along with finance, will sit down and have a...

When a contract is awarded saying that it has these conditions tied to it, the department follows up on the reporting from the contractor on the person that is doing the tender, and we track those things on a regular basis.