Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to report on its review of Bill 48, Post-secondary Education Act. The committee read their substantive report into the House on August 12, 2019. To commence its review of Bill 48, the Standing Committee on Social Development sent letters inviting input from an extensive list of stakeholders, including all municipal and Indigenous governments in the Northwest Territories, and a number of non-governmental organizations.

The committee held eight public hearings on Bill 48 in Fort Smith, Hay River, Fort Providence...

That is good to hear, and I hope the Minister will actually reach out to us MLAs, too, and get that information out to us. Will the Minister's department be working with residents as part of this program to establish an affordable payment program, and how does it have an impact on people who have already entered into a payment program?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for the clarification. I guess his definition of fair and my definition of fair is a little bit different. When I see a whole bunch of money going down south, it's a bit of a challenge. I know in BC they actually have a policy in place that, you know, gives incentives to businesses in their province to just keep the contracts there, and it's making it more of a challenge. Can the Minister advise the House here why doesn't the department have similar policies in place so it makes it harder for southern companies to come and take contracts from us...

I have been advised that previously, with the Business Incentive Policy, it was for the whole contract, and now I have been advised that it's only based on a few million dollars, and I am a little bit confused. Can the Minister advise this House what the cap is when it comes to northern contractors bidding on projects using BIP?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in the House to talk about a couple of infrastructure projects on Highway No. 1 and locations on Highways No. 3, 5, 6, and the Hay River Reserve access road this year. Unfortunately, the tenders were awarded to two southern companies. It was my understanding the bid difference was less than a million dollars, so we are seeing approximately $17.5 million leaving the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure how many northern and local contractors are being used on this work, but I know I have witnessed a lot of BC and Alberta plates on equipment as I have...

So this policy has changed, from my understanding, and maybe the Minister can correct me if I am wrong, but what was the rationale for the department using this new process to up to a maximum of a half a million dollars?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this afternoon I did a Member's statement on some challenges that we see with infrastructure in contracts, so I have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure about big projects and the process the department uses. Can the Minister explain why the Business Incentive Policy was developed by the Government of the Northwest Territories in the first place? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Development concluded its review of Bill 58, Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act, on July 25, 2019, with a public hearing and clause-by-clause review held at the Legislative Assembly building. Committee received no submissions from the public. The committee supported the government's change to improve access to justice and service delivery, which will assist residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Chair, I would also like to thank the Minister and his department for working with committee and our legislative staff as we move...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Development has reviewed Bill 58, Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act. Committee wishes to report that Bill 58 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole, and Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 75(5) and have Bill 58, Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act, moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Similar to Bill 40, with Bill 41, we would like to thank the Minister and the department and their staff working with the Legislative Assembly staff. I would also like to thank the committee and people who did their submissions to help us make this a better bill moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.