Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t think I heard the Minister say that he’ll consider the idea of an ombudsman’s office, so I’ll repeat the question. Will the Minister agree to look into establishing an ombudsman’s office for the next fiscal year?

I thank the Minister for his answer. I know that there is nothing in the current legislation that can limit a rent increase, except that there can only be one in any 12month period.

I’d like to know whether or not the Minister can advise if the department, in previous years, has ever considered rent caps.

I may be older but you’re obviously wiser, so I will try this again.

Laughter.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues.

One hundred thirty-five affected positions is not a last resort, in my estimation. I’m left feeling that the government has acted in a high-handed manner: job cuts already in place and funding for programs deleted as of April 1, well before the budget is approved.

The following quote appeared in a northern newspaper last month, and I have to agree with it: “It” — job cuts — “would imply that the decision-making process is being done outside of the formal budget process.”

Yes, it was only notification of possible job losses, but the public...

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize two fairly distinguished ladies in the gallery today: Lydia Bardak, whose official title is managing director of the John Howard Society and coordinator for Community Justice, Yellowknife, and also a city councillor for the City of Yellowknife; and Arlene Hache, who represents the Centre for Northern Families.

It’s a relief that, finally, I can talk publicly about the 2008–2009 budget. As a new MLA, the development of this budget has been an interesting and thought-provoking experience but, unfortunately, not one I wish to repeat if the process and the outcomes are the same.

Last December this Assembly agreed on goals and priorities and sent Cabinet away to produce a budget for us based on those goals. I had high — some would say naïvely high — hopes that I could have some influence on the development of this budget, that my input would be sought and respected. I’m sad to say that I don’t feel that...

It can cost the bidder for a project of this size up to $400,000 to develop a good proposal, with no guarantee of success. The process used in this case suggests to me that it was the intent of MACA to give the project to the winning proponent from the start. If that was the department’s intent, why do an RFP at all? Why not just sole-source the project in the first place, and save the other proponent the cost of developing the proposal?

That seems a little unusual. Why would one bother to put a request for proposal together and get numbers and figures and so on if it is only going to be negotiated once the proposal has been done? It seems strange to me, as well, that if negotiations are taking place with the winning proponent, the losing proponent doesn’t have the opportunity to negotiate terms and conditions. If the Minister could elaborate, please.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize two pages from the riding of Frame Lake: In front of me, Stuart Hamre and then, behind me, Jeanne Yurris. They’ve done a great job. Thank you.

Clarification — yes, I understand that. Thank you, Mr. Minister. However, there are a number of things about this process that don’t smell right to me. The selected proponent was pitching this project to the five communities at least a year and a half ago, and the selected proponent helped MACA set up the proposal call document for the RFP. Is this standard procedure for a request for procedure process?