Bob Bromley

Just for my clarity, that means we are no longer in a surplus position at some point to the three-quarters of the way through the year or whatever. Is that correct?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thanks for the Minister’s response. Yes, that would seem to be the appropriate vehicle. So maybe I’ll just ask the Minister to commit to making sure that there’s come discussion and consideration in the Financial Administration Act, the new version dealing with that renewal to provide that transparency in a practical way, monthly or quarterly or something like that. I’ll leave it at that. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks for that response. I see what’s happening is not in line with what’s been said is going to happen. I think the Water Strategy recognizes that we’re undervaluing our water. The Minister’s on record as saying we’ll be working to correct that situation. I guess I’m asking where we will see that and when we will see that reflected in this budget. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Obviously, we’ve had some major issues in this activity in the current year and the forecasts are for at least a possibility of similar-scale challenges in the coming year for which this is the budget. I recognize that the budget is not adjusted; in fact, it’s even down considerably from a couple years ago. How is the government handling this? Are we going to again borrow dollars or plan on saving dollars somewhere else if we do have another $60 million forest fire year?

Communities must be assisted to recognize the importance of the factors affecting education because, after all is said and done, raising a graduate is everybody’s business.

I appreciate the Minister’s thoughts on that. Right now we’re dealing with things sort of in an ad hoc way, and I think it would be great to see a very defined role which recognizes the things that the Minister has mentioned.

I wonder if the Minister would commit to getting that sort of thing into the transition document we’re contemplating or into the policy of his department if that’s more appropriate. I realize he’s not the only one that would be doing that but it needs leadership. I appreciate the leadership he’s provided on water. I’m not seeing the same thing on climate change, and as a...

That’s fine, Mr. Chair. I’ll leave it at that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That clears it up for me. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, that sounds good. It sounds like there are good discussions happening there. Will there be a public process to make sure that… As you know, the public regards this area as of extremely high interest and it’s a high use area. Will the Minister be going to the public for discussions as well? Or perhaps he already has.

Again, I will leave it at that. That’s my last question. I look forward to the document that’s coming forward on protected areas. I’ll be looking for an update on ecological representation in that document. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I ran out of time there as the Minister was wondering about how to define people who live in situations that I was trying to describe. I just thought I’d make the offer to work with him on that. Some of the things that come to mind is they get most of their food off the land from hunting and gathering. If they have children, the children are either home schooled or they have to leave home to go to school because schools are not accessible on a daily basis. The residents themselves rarely get into town and that sort of thing.

Again, I offer to help the Minister to help the...