Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. With respect to priorities and objectives of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight Progress Report on Priorities and Objectives, we read most of them into the public record. Just as chair, the most important thing for us is to continue our deliberations of pre-budget consultations and we really look forward to planning a fall session and getting out to the five regions. It means different communities; it means 10 communities that we're going to get out there and listen to people and talk about their priorities and their needs, as we...

Can we conclude in five, 10 minutes?

Okay, we're going to consider Committee Report 4-15(5).

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Just this whole issue is we have an opportunity to go over it again at length and we went over it yesterday and as a MLA for Nahendeh that represents Fort Simpson and the issue where this building stands is that I have to tell committee again is, it’s not something that’s been thrown on the books on this supp here two weeks ago, it’s something that I’ve been working with the community, all levels of the community. Everyone is concerned about the building and the infrastructure and what to do with it and what’s the best way we could plan around it. A lot of...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that answer. This is something that the community wants and this is something that I’ll champion all the way. It’s not some whimsical airy project that just come out of nowhere and I would just like to remind Members that we always said we’ll bend over backwards for the will of the community and this is one of their wills, is to see the continuation of this building and Members want to say well, Kevin, you’ll get a better building. Yes, okay, let’s put $20 million on the books and I’ll be happy to go home to Simpson with a $20...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. No, the issue is that there is already a shortfall because the funding that communities are getting is based on a three-year average, but the average did not include the skyrocketing increase in the O and M, which is basically fuel. So that’s the shortfall that the community has asked me to address. Will the Minister look at some type of funding options to provide, to prevent this hardship for this fiscal year? Mahsi cho.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes to consider Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2006-2007, as well as Committee Report 4-15(5).

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister’s approach to a discrepancy between how much a community spends and how much a community will receive through this complex funding formula, will that be addressed this year or is that something that the communities can discuss and raise with the Minister soon, because it will impact their current year’s budget, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have been in contact with the Minister’s office to advise him that this fiscal year…and he’s absolutely right; the communities are happy with the formula, it’s just that because of the rising energy costs in the last six months, like, this formula probably took some time to work on, the six months that they took to work on this formula is just when the gas and fuel prices were rising, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister address this year’s shortfall this year as opposed to waiting until next fiscal year? Thank you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Transferring, updating, downloading, dumping. Many verbs can be used to describe the fact that our government wants to save money and cut costs. This old practice of offloading is being used today by MACA in our regions. Offloading is when a government transfers responsibility for services to its regions and communities. In theory, Mr. Speaker, these transfers would be beneficial and welcome in all small and remote communities such as the ones I represent in Nahendeh. This transfer of services and responsibilities will not work if it is less, yes...