Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. With reference to the opening remarks from the Minister, he talks about the $371,000 increase to salaries and benefits, yet towards the end of his opening remarks he talks about reduction of seven staff positions. I have trouble understanding the large reduction of seven staff and yet we can still have an increase to salaries and benefits. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Will this figure be used for the next four years annually, $14 million taxation revenues and school revenues? I am just wondering if we will be using that figure for the next four years.

Thank you very much for that explanation. I take it it’s other transfers or other grants that other departments receive that don’t actually show up in the Department of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't know if I'm preceding the committee, because I'm looking at page 3-12, if you will permit me. At the bottom it says the above amounts reflect only program delivery costs and does not include corporate and administrative costs. I'm just wondering where do the corporate and administrative costs of the department show up.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am just trying to get a concept of whether we should get our bonus revenue because it is tax time and that we get an extra $20 million. What guarantee do we have that it is put into the cash surplus and not spent before it gets to the House?

Thank you, Mr. Minister. I am wondering overall, budget wise, I am new to this process and I am wondering if you could shed a little bit of light on why the budget was at $960 million when we came to the 15th Assembly, and why there wasn’t a lead up to kind of striving to balance our budget, instead of the predicament that we find ourselves in, which is fine, because I believe it is manageable because I like to look on the bright side too. If the Minister can give me a little bit of history of why the budget was at $960 million without the forced growth issues. It seems that we had planned...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe this question will be directed to the Premier. I have before me the 14th Legislative Assembly final report of the Special Joint Committee on Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs. What strikes me in this report is that it recommended the establishment of a standing committee on non-taxed based communities. I am wondering if the government has looked at that and are willing to proceed with that in the 15th Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was just wondering where it would show up if it's an actual cost to the budget.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My next question is with regard to when Ottawa announces a new initiative that is cost shared 50/50. I think that's what kind of gets us into trouble, because we don't have the other 50 cents to chip in to begin with, yet we take the opportunity to do it. Does that also come before the House, where we can have input into an initiative that's good but we just can't afford?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think my next question would be let's say the windfalls or the extra bonus revenue that we receive, are government the ones who spends it or does it come before the House so we can have some input? I am just wondering how that process works.