Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Minister. Anything further, Mr. Pokiak?

Thank you. I should underscore that, although it was significantly close, the special warrant was well within the rules which is 14 days before, of course, this session. I just found it surprising that it is very close to that little period, if it was approved through their administrative Executive Council process through FMB, if it had been delayed a week, the approval, it would have gone through the Legislative Assembly through the normal process without requiring a special warrant. That is not to question the value of the project that is being considered or being taken care of here....

Thank you, Minister Roland. Minister Miltenberger, please.

Thank you. Bill 16 is now ready for third reading. Thank you.

At this time, I would like to thank the Minister and his witnesses, Ms. Gall, Dr. Corriveau and Mr. Murray. Mr. Minister, I believe you have something to say.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Minister. Anything further, Mr. Pokiak?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I respectfully think that the Minister missed the point on the sole sourcing, because what I am saying is 92 percent of the business in Stanton Territorial Hospital went south. That took away any opportunity that these northern businesses had to tender or the opportunity to tender, I should say, on those contracts. That just flew right over them, Mr. Speaker. That is why I drew that comparison. Yes, BIP doesn’t apply to that, but BIP is about establishing solid grounds where northern businesses can be competitive. Mr. Speaker, I still go back to what I said on the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I'll definitely say anything that helps small business is certainly a good step. But, Mr. Speaker, there is a concern out there that this dropping of the BIP may be steamrolled and consultation may be just for formality. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to point out a couple of things. The Minister's tabled documents in this House have pointed out that Health and Social Services sole sources 77 percent of their contracts. A letter from Minister Miltenberger, which I tabled in this House, pointed out that 92 percent of their business at Stanton Territorial Hospital goes...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During AOC committee’s pre-budget consultation last year, an issue came up across the NWT and it was the need for more relevant programming in schools for our northern students. This includes northern aboriginal language, culture, land claim agreements, traditional skills and history of the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, this only makes sense that our youth be taught, in a coordinated way, our culture, history and current events of the North that they live in. Learning about southern Canada and other parts of the globe is very important too, Mr. Speaker, but it should not take such...