Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much. I just wanted to get right into the financial shared services and amalgamating people into the financial shared services. I’ve been trying to find some documentation on this from the last time the committee had an update on it. I think it was just before our election in 2011, so I don’t know if P and P have had an update on where financial shared services is going.

The original intent, of course, was the logical thing to do was when we split the Department of ITI and ENR and there were some similar functions so we just kept shared services. I’ve spoken earlier in the House...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I certainly look forward to that research that the Minister wants to do and see what other resources are there that can assist these organizations.

I’d just like to know if the convictions for drinking and driving have increased. I think it was during the last review, I’d like to ask the Minister, has it increased? Thank you.

With our government’s efforts to reduce drunk driving, parental groups like MADD and even SADD, Students Against Drunk Driving, have we seen a decrease in the amount of drunk driving convictions and charges in the last five years? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Anti-bullying is incredibly important to us today, just as important as the initiative against drunk driving, which is my Member’s statement today.

Today I want to praise the immense contributions of a Fort Simpson resident, Ms. Sharon Allen, who is a dedicated campaigner for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the national organization best known as MADD Canada.

Sharon has been personally affected by impaired driving. In 2008 Sharon and her husband, Kevin, lost their daughter, Keisha Trudel. Keisha was only 16 at the time. Keisha’s memory has been kept alive by...

Thank you very much. It’s kind of like a big community motion built on using the word small communities, but I am going to support it, but only because it’s a recommendation at this point. Of course, committee will be wanting to have full discussion with government on it and I will look forward to further details as we move along on this motion.

Mr. Chair, under corporate management, of course they have the responsibility of finance and capital planning. I know that this is our operation and maintenance budget, but schools in our small communities ought to be a priority. I’m pleased that we finished building the big schools in the big communities. I really feel that it’s time to turn our attention while we can before there’s another issue in a larger community. Let’s try to get some of these older schools in the smaller communities built and those that don’t have any, like I’ve been making a case for Trout Lake. It is more of a...

Mr. Chair, that is a good explanation for that. Liquor Commission agency expenses are up by $1 million over the last couple of years, maybe could we get an explanation for that?

I thank the Minister. I think it might be the Standing Committee on Government Operations that takes the lead over finances. Perhaps at that time we can invite as many Members as we can to that briefing. I’m glad for that commitment because this is almost becoming a department that we almost need a deputy minister here for. It has taken on a life of its own. I have checked with my colleagues to try to find out more, so here’s a good opportunity while we’re doing the budget. I’m glad for the commitment and I’ll be interested to see where government wants to go with this department. It continues...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Sometimes we create creatures in our government that takes on a life of its own. I share the concerns of my colleagues and feel that the program review office has created a life of its own. I really want to sit down with the Minister and do what the motion calls for. Let’s review this. Let’s review the intention of this program review office and get back to the original intention, which was to try to find efficiencies and better ways of doing things in government. That’s all the motion calls for, so I will be supporting it. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I certainly look forward to the department’s plan and I would like to continue to push for it. In 2010 I thought I had resolution over getting nursing delivered in Wrigley, and I believe it was Tsiigehtchic through the same Integrated Service Delivery Model he’s talking about, so I would like to continue pressing that forward.

Once again, can he show me the policy, the regulation, something in writing where it says we cannot have less than two nurses in a small community? Thank you.