Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Stewart. Page 2-22, Executive, activity summary, executive operations, grants and contributions, grants, total grants, $350,000.

I appreciate that. Can we expect this amount to go up the following fiscal year? Are we projecting it to go up based on what we know now? Are there programmed increases expected the following fiscal year related to the changes we made in 2011-2012?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Executive. They are on the voluntary sector. I’d like to start by just quickly looking at our record during the life of our term. The first thing we did was cut out the Volunteer Support Initiative. Now we’ve dropped the multi-year funding for those providing critical services; that seems to be on hold. We’ve continually refused to install an office of capacity building in the Department of Executive, as the sector has called for repeatedly at committee and by Members. We’ve established a modest Stabilization Fund which is directed...

Contributions, total contributions, Ms. Bisaro.

Thanks to the Premier for those comments. I just want to take him up on the other half of the question, which was under our newfound abilities to influence things and the agreement we seem to be getting from various federal Ministers that, yes, it’s a new game now. We have signed an AIP. We are moving towards that responsibility. What plan does this department have to move to make progress on this issue finally, recognizing that we have not been successful in the past but we have a new opportunity?

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Any comment or response, Minister Roland?

Thank you, committee. Mr. Roland.

So just for clarification, the $6.444 million in expenditures here over the two fiscal years, this year and next, is a one-time cost that won’t be needed in the future? Or a two-time cost that won’t be needed in the future? Is that right?

Thank you, Minister. Committee, we’re on page 2-21, Department of Executive, activity summary, executive operations, operations expenditure summary, $7.010 million. Agreed?

I think we’re finally starting to get at what I’m interested in. How are we making the offer is what I’m interested in. I’m aware of the Premier’s regional tours. I think that’s a good way to start getting that back on the table. Those are the sorts of things that I’m looking for here. How are we proactively going after getting them to do the signing on and getting back to the table towards that as a step?