by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 30/97) - A long battle by ordinary members to standardize the way government contracts are awarded is nearing an end.

A motion passed in the legislature Wednesday requires the government to develop a policy on which contracts will be awarded without competition.

"I think it's come a long way," said Yellowknife Centre MLA Jake Ootes, who initiated the motion yesterday requiring the government to produce a draft policy by Aug. 15.

"Last year there wasn't even a way of checking which contracts were negotiated and which ones were not ... now the process is very transparent. My motion today is forcing the government to clarify why and when sole-sourced and negotiated contracts -- I call them non-competitive contracts -- will be used."

Sole-source and negotiated contracts, unlike tendered contracts, are not open to competition.

"Approximately 47 per cent of all contracts issued by this government are sole-source or negotiated," noted Picco, speaking in support of Ootes' motion. "That is a number that is too high. We as a government don't know what premium we are paying for that."

Not all MLAs agree a policy is needed.

"The premier did make a commitment during the last sitting to have a policy provided to the committee," said Deputy Premier Goo Arlooktoo. "What's being asked for in the motion is being done already."

Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko said the policy will harm businesses in small communities, forcing them to compete with big business from bigger centres.

"I think it's a shame these larger communities have to pick on smaller communities and take away measures designed to protect them," said Krutko.

Ootes said Krutko is mistaken, explaining measures favoring local business and Northern employment are already part of the process used to award contracts.