Jane Groenewegen

Certainly it did exist in previous Assemblies. Just to note the difference, though, Regular Members do not accrue vacation leave, and we certainly don’t get paid out for it at the end of our term, but Cabinet Ministers do.

Mr. Speaker, also under the Ministerial Benefits Policy there is something called an entertainment allowance. It is a non-accountable $1,500 annual allowance for duty related entertainment expenses. I would like to ask the Premier: is that over and above the already existing approximately $1,000 a month that Members receive? So they would get the Members’ $1,000 non...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I believe it was, in the House — or this week, at least — a couple of documents were tabled with respect to the Ministerial Benefits Policy and also a report respecting benefits to Ministers under that policy for the fiscal year ended March 31. Every term I believe that there is an independent commission struck to look at Members’ remuneration and benefits. I think that this commission allows for a cross-section of input and public participation for those who may wish to comment on Members’ benefits and pay.

The Members of the Executive Council actually are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The wish of the committee is to proceed with Bill 19, then 14, 16, 17 and the sessional statement, in that order.

I was wanting to know if it is over and above what Regular Members receive. I have to assume that it is, that the $1,500 is separate and for ministerial entertainment, as opposed to MLA expenses in that area.

Mr. Speaker, these questions went all too quickly, but do Ministers also have access to the departmental budget, credit cards, allowances for such things as entertainment?

Again, I’m just not sure exactly of the processes. There is something that goes to the Cabinet — it’s called the pink — and it’s usually the FMB’s analysis of a particular project that’s before Cabinet. So there wouldn’t have been any other record of decision signed off other than the one signed by Mr. Handley and voted on by the Cabinet, correct?

Thank you. To Mr. Hawkins’ questions about whether modern day formulas would mean smaller classrooms than we have now, I want to assure Members that we can’t get classrooms smaller than what we have right now. So it would be, as Mr. Aumond said, that in some cases it would mean smaller classrooms and some cases the reverse. In this case, it would be the reverse, because you can’t get classrooms smaller and more dysfunctional in that sense from what we have right now in Hay River South at Diamond Jenness. Some of you have seen them. There is not even a proper dividing wall between the...

Thank you. So Premier Handley signed off on the record of decision from the FMB to enter into the negotiations?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to be very clear, certainly I’m in support of making sure that if we are going to have a midlife retrofit on the Diamond Jenness Secondary School, it incorporates everything that we would like it to incorporate.

I’m not suggesting that we should take a band-aid and put it on a building and then close your eyes and cross your fingers and hope for the best for the next 35 years. I do want to see it incorporate all things. I’m just having a hard time accepting that from what I heard — when the Ministers, Education, Public Works and Services and everybody came down...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would suggest we resume consideration of Tabled Document 93-16(2), Capital Estimates 2009–2010. In particular I suggest we pick up consideration of Capital Estimates for Transportation before we continue with Industry, Tourism and Investment and Environment and Natural Resources. Following that, we’ll resume with consideration of ECE and Public Works and Services, in that order, and hopefully consider these matters through to conclusion today.