Michael Miltenberger

The office building was discussed fully. There was extensive work done. It went on for, actually, a number of years doing all the market analysis. The other work of the Program Review Committee: there were briefings on the work done and the issues raised and the complexity of some of the issues. Some of the other ones had to do with adult education and how it’s funded, how it could be improved, and once again my recollection was that there was no appetite to proceed with anything of that nature that would be controversial and require possible adjustments or changes or cuts. So the work is...

I will commit to confirm that for the Member. Thank you.

It’s my recollection and estimation that there was no appetite by this Assembly at this juncture to talk about a meaningful way about the pupil/teacher ratio and how it’s funded far above the legislative requirement or the opportunities for the reprofiling of money through the inclusive schooling system, for example.

We know that there are still opportunities that the next Assembly is going to have to deal with about board reform. That will be, once again, within the purview of the next Assembly. We know there are going to be decisions that are going to continue to be made about supplementary...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table the Main Estimates, 2011-2012, Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The office building for sure has an impact as we think about this budget and the budget that’s going to follow this one in terms of what flexibility and capacity does it give us if we know we’re going to have a $100 million savings. We know that we’re identifying a $100 million savings over the life of the lease. We know that we’re doing work in a number of very critical areas that relate the programs in education and health that are going to be very significant and we identify those as areas for future work or future decisions because we’re not going to be able to make...

We would, of course, see who of the existing staff has the skills and the time to try to accept this added burden that the Member would like us to take on. Thank you.

I’ve given a fairly extensive list of some of the program areas that are being funded and that support is there. We’re working, as well, with communities. At the same time we also know, as we talk about efficiencies and effectiveness, the issue of long-term care facilities and the fact that they can only be sustained in regional centres. That’s a direction that the government is going in because it’s the most efficient and affordable way to deal with the issue. At the same time we’re adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Home Care Program so that in fact we can work better and more...

I point out, as well, that we are currently engaged with the federal government on a review of the borrowing limit, not only for the Northwest Territories but the three territories. We anticipate that work will be completed by spring, by April. It is my hope that we will come to a better accommodation than the recognition of and our ability to manage debt. That’s one thing.

What is out there that we don’t control, most immediately of course comes to mind -- something I start worrying about in April -- is fire season and what could possibly happen. British Columbia, I understand, last year had a...

We, of course, want the same thing. I’ve seen that document and we are looking and we will continue to look, as I indicated in my budget address, at ways to be more efficient. The amount of contracts, of course, is one area that has a lot of discretion to it and we will be examining as we go forward as a way, that and other things, to try to control our costs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have to do a number of things in this area. We have to continue to look at bringing qualified people north to fill jobs that are hard to fill. At the same time, as I indicated to the Member for Tu Nedhe, there are investments being made in the small communities, the $925,000 that was just announced for the Small Community Employment Program, the $350,000 for student employment.

In Aklavik I understand that the affected employees will be given full consideration under the government’s Affected Employee Policy, that there will be a number of different jobs available. We...