Michael Miltenberger

Those budget numbers are contained and we stay within the 3 percent cap that we set overall. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Thank you. I will commit to update and I will do that through the Social Programs committee, and I am happy to have any discussion with the Member that he thinks is necessary. But I will look at the results of the meeting and I will share that information with the Social Programs committee. As well, I’d be happy to have any kind of further discussion that the Member may require. Thank you.

In Hay River it would be the folks that work in the hospital that deal with environmental health issues. Here it would be the same. With your local health centre, if there are no environmental health officials available. The folks in the health centres, the trained staff, nurses and such would be the first point of contact.

This is a critical issue and I share the Member’s concern and the need to keep everybody fully apprised. We will do that. We’ll ensure that before this Legislature is dissolved in August that we have an update provided to the Regular Members through the Social Programs committee. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to reassure the Member and point out that we had a $527 million capital plan for last year. We delivered 74 percent of that, almost $400 million. What we’re carrying over is now a shade under $140 million. So I can speak with some considerable certainty that we will get those capital projects on the ground, considering that last year we delivered nearly $400 million worth of capital projects across the North. Delivering this remaining $140 million, roughly, will be done. The infrastructure is there. The supports are there. The mechanisms are there. The...

If the Member has specific concerns in the North about how we provide those services and if he’s suggesting, for example, that we change the specifications and require jets versus any kind of prop fixed-wing plane, that’s a discussion we have to look at. Everything has a cost, as well. We’re trying to manage our expenditures in this area and this is an area where the costs are constantly increasing, so we’d have to be very careful and clear. If the Member has some specifics that he thinks are worth review, I’d be happy to have that discussion with him. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are protocols that are fairly standard in terms of how you deal with these type of infestations and when they occur. We become aware of them. We work with building owners or whoever’s necessary, and pest control people, to look at the steps for proper eradication.

As Minister responsible, I will be overseeing it at this level and we will continue to use the good offices of the deputy minister of Health and Social Services. We are one of a number of stakeholders. We want to make sure that collectively we have the input necessary to ensure the best service possible and we will continue to do that. Thank you.

I’ll refer that question to Minister Michael McLeod.