David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister clarify the question in regard to the Semmler Building and those individuals moving in and out of the space? Who is going to be filling that space in the Semmler Building that is going to be vacated by Health and Social Services?

Mr. Chairman, this was an issue that came forward that I raised in regard to the Department of Environment moving out to Shell Lake. They were saying they don’t know how they’re going to fill that space. That space is still vacant. No one has moved into that space in regard to the Department of Environment relocating to Shell Lake. There’s also the Professional Building in Inuvik which has a floor that’s basically vacant. So out of that, there’s almost 7,000 square feet of office space that’s vacant in Inuvik. I know that in regard to the Perry Building, that basically was a question of...

It’s the last, which projects make the most sense, that I have concerns about, because a lot of times the smaller communities don’t seem to be put on the same pedestal as large capital projects for specific departments. Departments seem to win out over small communities, and that’s the challenge that we’re facing here in regard to how capital is being allocated.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance if there’s any way of monitoring some of these projects to ensure that they are fairly distributed by way of geography, making sure that small and large communities have a fair balance on that...

The Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority health clinic…. I believe there’s already a clinic in Inuvik. Is that the same clinic that you’re going to be relocating in regard to this particular health clinic in Inuvik?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regard to the office facility for Inuvik I’ve been making inquiries as to the vacant space available in Inuvik and what effect this could have on the market. I’ve been told that there is roughly a 7 per cent vacant office space rate in Inuvik, excluding the Perry Building, so here you’re looking at about another 3,200 square feet. Right now there are probably about 10,000 square feet of vacant office space in Inuvik, so unless we can prove that there’s going to be no market disruption by putting a building of 47,000 square feet in Inuvik and that it won’t have an...

I’d like to thank the Minister for that. We also realize that in order for projects to get on the agenda for the Building Canada Fund, they have to be at a certain stage of assessment and validation in looking at the capital costs of those projects. So that’s the challenge a lot of our smaller communities have with our projects. We don’t have the ability to access the Department of Transportation or Public Works or infrastructure departments to assist us in compiling that information so that we can make the list, so I think that’s the challenge we’re facing. Also, out of the Building Canada...

In regard to making that decision, trying to acquire information after the fact doesn’t help us here. We need that information now in order to know that the decision we’re making will not have an implication for the retail market in Inuvik. Knowing that these leases are month to month, there is no certainty by way of lease commitments. So how can you expect us to make a rash decision on the basis of not having that information in front of us?

Again, Mr. Chairman, in the 15th Assembly a lot of work was put into this project and moving it ahead. It was done by the Minister of Education, the Minister of Public Works and the MLAs, and it was on the drawing board to move ahead.

Something has happened between the 15th and the 16th Assemblies, where this project has basically moved totally off the game plan that was put in place in the 15th Assembly. This was supposedly moving forward during that period of time. A lot of work and a lot of reviews took place. There was a plan in place to move on this project. We have the reports. We have...

Mr. Chairman, I believe there is a correlation between maintenance and no maintenance, and we know people are complaining that there is no maintenance being done on the road by government because of cutbacks or reductions. We’ve been telling the people in the field, “Sorry; we don’t have any money; we can’t do any maintenance,” and basically using that as the reason for not doing maintenance. I think we do have a responsibility to ensure that maintenance takes place. Cost reduction reasons is usually the excuse for not doing maintenance.

So I’d like to ask the Minister again: what is this...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Minister, earlier on when I asked a question in regard to leases in Inuvik, mentioned that he didn’t have it. Does he have it at the present time? I think he’s got enough staff by way of Public Works and Services that he should be able to compile that information. He had a couple of hours. I’d like to ask the Minister if that information has been brought forward. I think this government cannot knowingly or unknowingly know what the implication of this decision is until you know what the terms of those leases are for the government in regard to the Inuvik project. I...