Katrina Nokleby

I think that's pretty much all the department has been doing for the last while, is adjusting all of our programs, our projects, everything with respect to COVID. It's just unfortunately, with the way that the system of the budgeting goes in, this is my understanding, was we have to get the budget in. It was done prior to COVID, and then there will be adjustments coming. Maybe, Dr. Dragon, I don't know if you have any significant adjustments that you might want to discuss at this point?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Those are good questions and, obviously, something that we're going to have to be dealing with over the next while. I do want to say that some of the federal funding that's coming forward now, they are, as I mentioned before, looking to be more flexible. We are looking to get 100 percent dollars for projects going forward so, perhaps, that may be a route we can go with the three major infrastructure projects. Those would be options that we would be looking to discuss with the federal government. The conversation I'm having with the federal government is that, not only...

Thank you, Madam Chair. As part of that project matrix that I was talking about earlier, all the highways are included in that. Yes, we do look at ranking them and determining which ones need repair and rehabilitation sooner rather than later. We can definitely commit to looking at the particular areas that you are looking at. We do have a published highways report that could be, if the Member wants more information you can access that. I'm definitely willing to take those suggestions back and we can look at where those pieces of infrastructure fall into the planning for the department and...

Thank you, Madam Chair. We commit to doing so. Thank you.

On everyone's left, that's Dr. Joe Dragon, and on the right is Mr. Gary Brennan. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that's a conversation for all of us as a whole as to whether or not we're revisiting the mandate. I don't believe that we're at that point in the conversation, and if we are, I'm not aware of it. No, that's not ongoing at this point. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, you're right, every contract is going to be different. I do recognize that, if we don't change the language in our contracts, we're just going to keep letting people game the system, which is what's happening. That's when you see the cutting of the cheque or, you know, the bait and switch of, "oh, we've got these people" and then, "oh, now we've got the contract we're going to hire these people." All of those types of situations are things that I'm pretty aware of and alive to and part of my motivations for getting into this seat in the first place. All parts of...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, we buy at market, we sell at market, so you will see that change. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I do, and I don't stand up; right? I do. Thank you. I am pleased to present the 2020-2021 Main Estimates for the Department of Infrastructure. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $11.6 million, or 4.4 percent, over the 2019-2020 Main Estimates. These estimates support our fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending while matching the modest expected revenue growth over the coming year.

Highlights of these proposed estimates include:

forced growth increases of $7.7 million, which primarily consists of $2 million for utility costs at the new Stanton...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not an accountant. I misspoke. I apologize. Thank you, Mr. Chair.