David Krutko

Mr. Chair, there has been a lot of money expended in previous years. I’m not too sure of the numbers, but the information I’m looking at is just a draft for 2009–2010, Infrastructure Acquisition: $20 million. What has $20 million been expended on already while we haven’t even constructed the school?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we can see with the challenges we’re facing, we do have to do a better job of allocating capital to ensure we do focus on those urgent parts of our highways that are collapsing, which are basically public safety risks, by reinvesting in those highways that are in substandard condition. I drove Highway No. 5 this summer, and I was totally amazed at the amount of chipseal there and the condition of the road and trying to find a speed bump, of which there aren’t any.

I think it’s important to realize that we have some really unique challenges in regard to Highway No. 6 and...

Mr. Chairman, one area that’s pretty obvious is…. People who got into a B & B business or a local hotel are struggling to keep their doors open. They’ve taken the risks and set up these businesses in our small communities, yet people continue to come in and set up their own camps. Again, they’re not using, under our policy in regard to using local businesses, local entrepreneurs to accommodate their services in these contracts.

Why is it that there’s a loophole there that has continued to be avoided with the so called policies this government has? They allow that practice to continue, which is...

Mr. Chair, I’d like to move a motion.

With that, we’ll take a short break.

The Committee of the Whole took a short recess.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question in regard to the cost of child and family services in Mackenzie Delta communities. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services:

How many children from the Mackenzie Delta communities are receiving services through Child and Family Services, Department of Health and Social Services?

Please provide the monthly costs to administer voluntary support services and agreements, plan of care agreements and child apprehensions per child in the Mackenzie Delta constituency under the following situations:

care in the parental home;

care...

Can the Minister elaborate on how far into the future he is talking about replacing this vessel?

The government requires 25,000 square feet of space. They’re going to build a facility for 47,000 square feet of space. That’s double what the government’s needs are. That is going to double the requirements and needs in the Inuvik region. If you’re talking about office space needs versus the size of a facility that’s going to be built, it’s twice the size of what’s required by the government today. If you can’t tell me that the other half of that space is going to be filled by somebody else.… Those people have to come from somewhere.

As a government we realize that the Inuvik economy is not...

Now, this is a major megaproject, and I think that in order to get the maximum benefit out of this project, everyone should at least have an opportunity to bid on some of these items in this contract and ensure that the BIP is being followed. We do have a negotiating policy in regard to everyone having a fair process on bidding on these types of items, regardless if it’s site development, pilings or working in regard to roofing or siding or drywalling or whatever. This is a major project.

I’d like to ask the Minister again: can they ensure that they are following their guidelines? Would the...