Again, for clarity, the fact is that some of these communities that have pursued initiatives have spent their own money on coming up with their plans and cost-benefit analyses and so on. We realize that in other communities, they don’t have that flexibility, so we’re ready through the Department of Transportation to look at an arrangement where we can help get to the next stage.

The fact is that when we talk about connecting to our actual highway system from communities, we know from our estimates, and we’ve been using these for quite some time…. It’s an estimate that at least starts the basis...

…Kam Lake, yes…

Laughter.

There are a number of different initiatives, whether within our own government or agreements we end up signing or that flow through with the federal government. For example, the Building Canada Fund has a cost-sharing process that we have to match, or the project has to match, going forward.

We have some initiatives within our own policies of cost-sharing arrangements with communities. It depends on which project it actually aligns with — whether it’s the Building Canada Fund or our own Capital Acquisition Plan. There is no hard and fast line, for example, to say every project has to have a 50...

Mr. Chairman, the first impact is dealing with this budget and its impact. As we go forward in the ’09–10 business plan, what we’re planning is a four-year cycle for this government, but the remainder of our three years, it would come forward. We would begin addressing it in ’09–10, so members will start seeing our plans for what we’re hoping to try to do before the fall time.

I think it would be fairly straightforward for us, as Members, whether we’re representing small communities or larger centres. When we travel throughout the North, we can clearly see there are differences in our larger centres that have a healthy economic sector versus the small community that could be traditionally based.

There are large gaps; we recognize that. That’s why part of our strategic action is supporting sustainable communities. That is looking at the level of service we provide and the delivery methods. We can also bring to the table the fact that as a government we’ve recognized...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the process of looking at the reduction target that we had to work with within the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, we don’t have much flexibility. There are no program dollars available.

The department is about people and taking part at these tables. What we had to look at was ensuring that we were able to meet our obligations under a number of categories. Those are, for example, negotiations and pieces that we’re involved with today, to have representation there to ensure that we meet our obligation under the implementation...

Mr. Speaker, as we begin the work of the 16th Legislative Assembly to get through this budget cycle, we’re prepared to move into these areas and look at that work. There has been much work done; for example, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, when it comes to their funding formulas; Education, Culture and Employment; Health and Social Services. There are different frameworks out there when it comes to the level of service in communities. We want to bring those to the table, as we’d had the questions in the House by the Member regarding a role with the committees and Members of...

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May and June mark a special time in the North, a sure sign of change. The land returns with its colours, and the sounds of the wildlife once again come alive.

Mr. Speaker, another sign of change is also recognized in our schools. Graduations mark that change in many lives of our students and families. The graduates look forward to what the next stage of life may bring — continuing education, jobs, travel, families. As parents we still see our young son or daughter taking their first steps, riding their bike for the first time — I hope my son Justin is watching — running...

The position would not be filled. The one the Member is speaking of is within this department down in Ottawa. The office manager wasn’t the manager of that position. The office manager ran the office and kept it open and ready for use by individuals in governments and departments who travelled down to Ottawa. As I stated earlier, we are revising, looking at how we operate in that area, and how we operate as a government for when we travel down to Ottawa. That will come forward as part of our ’09–10 business plan process. Thank you.