Wendy Bisaro

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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As has been mentioned previously, the voluntary sector goes beyond the purview of Municipal and Community Affairs. It involves people in the health area; it involves people in the justice area; it involves people that cover all departments within our government. I would like to ask the Minister if he would give me an opinion, in his role as Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, if he doesn’t believe that the centralization of the point of contact for the voluntary sector would be a benefit to that sector in them moving forward and accomplishing more for our...

I’d like to follow up on the statements about the voluntary sector that have been made by my colleagues. I was really pleased to hear the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs state that we need to take action to ensure that the volunteer sector stays strong. I’d like to ask the Minister: other than the N.W.T. Outstanding Volunteer Awards, what is MACA doing to strengthen the volunteer sector?

I thank the Minister for that summary. I don’t mean to lessen the value of any of the things the Minister mentioned, but I don’t believe that those are working towards strengthening the sector; I think those are maintaining the sector. I’d like to know whether there are any specific actions the Minister is considering relative to the voluntary sector to help strengthen it.

Mr. Speaker, International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, is the global day which connects women around the world and inspires them to achieve their full potential. International Women’s Day celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future.

The first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States on the 28th of February in 1909. It was the result of women’s oppression and inequality, which spurred women on to become vocal and active in campaigning for change. In 1908, for example, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and...

That’s not exactly the answer I was looking for, but I understand the situation. I would urge the department to work with their district education authorities to do more to bring housing in line with the conditions that most of us expect.

I’d like to ask whether or not the department has a zero-tolerance policy that addresses violence towards teachers in school.

I’d like to follow up on my Member’s statement and ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment a couple of questions relative to some of the problems that teachers experience on a daily basis. I would like to ask the Minister what the department does currently to provide housing for teachers in smaller communities.

I hear the Hon. Member from across the floor, but I have to again state there is no indication in the materials and explanations that we have had, apart from his words just now, that indicates that this is an urgent item. I gather that the system is already there, and I understand that it needs to be upgraded but, again, my understanding was that this interim appropriation was basically for items which were under contract, which were a safety measure or which were urgently required. I don’t know why this item can’t wait ‘til May or June.

I have a question in regard to the jet boat expense scheduled for Norman Wells. I wonder what the urgency is for this addition. I don’t believe it was in the ’07 – ‘08 main estimates. There is a jet boat for Behchoko that I gather was in the main estimates last year, but the one for Norman Wells was not. If I can get an explanation as to the urgency of this particular expenditure or if it’s a safety issue. I don’t see prior expenditures, so it doesn’t seem to be a contract issue.