Michael McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left I have Paul Guy, deputy minister of Public Works and Services, and on my right I have Ms. Laurie Gault, director of the Technical Services Centre.

It is our practice to share the information once the reports have been compiled in terms of what hazardous material may be in the building, any outstanding issues that the facility may need to address while doing demolition. So we’d be happy to share that information. We usually do with the contractor that has the contract.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman.

I am pleased to present the Department of Public Works and Services’ main estimates for the fiscal year 2011-12.

The main estimates propose a departmental operations and maintenance budget for 2011-12 of $93 million which represents an increase of $224,000, or 2 percent, in O and M funding over 2010-11. In addition, the department has an approved infrastructure investment plan of $14.3 million for 2011-12.

Public Works and Services is an essential partner in the achievement of government-wide goals, while achieving the best value for government, communities, businesses...

Mr. Chairman, yes, everything is where everything is supposed to be on this project and the land has now been reverted back to Municipal and Community Affairs and I believe they’re having discussions with the municipality. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, once again, the request hasn’t come to my office. I believe the request did come to our government, but in the life of the 15th Assembly, so it is not something I am currently reviewing. The request I believe at the time went to the Finance Minister’s office.

Mr. Speaker, if there is a suggestion that the Member is making, we can certainly consider them and bring it to the appropriate department. There are a number of rules that have to be followed that we have agreed to as a government with the Commissioner’s position and tax laws and federal requirements that we have to abide by...

The Member knows full well that we can’t provide actual costs until we’re operating a facility. Our costs are all forecasted, as we do with any kind of planning and for budgeting purposes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think there were about three questions there. The answer to all three is no, we haven’t looked at it. It’s not a responsibility that falls under the Department of Public Works so we haven’t had any requests come to us about some of the suggestions he’s made and we have not reviewed any correspondence to that effect. Thank you.

The short answer is yes. We’ve taken those costs into consideration when we did the evaluation between the lease and our own ownership, government-owned buildings. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, the money that’s allocated in this budget line is for airfare, for any air charters, accommodations, meals or incidentals. There is, and have been, communities that have requested us to come into the community to either explain the program, to assist with some of the technical areas, to ask for advice or to help them put the proposal together. A portion of these dollars are earmarked for that service.

There would be no need for the ferry or the ice road once the bridge is open.