Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my last question to the Minister would be, again, about money. If we are committed at this point to $27 million, and that we – as the Minister says he hopes we don’t use more than that – are we going to see a supplementary appropriation sometime down the road to go beyond the $27 million that we’re now committed to?

Thanks to the Minister for that explanation. I have to say, I’m a little bit concerned when I hear the Minister say that $27 million is an initial figure. I have to say, I’m a little concerned when I hear him say that it is basically a federal responsibility. I’d like to know from the Minister: Do we anticipate further financial requirements on this government to do with the cleanup of Giant Mine? If the $27 million is an initial figure, what are we in the long haul for?

I will now rise and report progress. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up today on my colleagues’ comments made yesterday about this week’s municipal elections.

I offer congratulations to all elected councillors, trustees and mayors, especially those who ran in Yellowknife. I say thank you to everyone who entered the race. Your commitment and sacrifice are much appreciated.

Across the North, six cities, towns and villages felt the wind of change on their faces. We have five new mayors, and here in Yellowknife, six of our eight council members are new to the game.

I attended several election forums last week, and I heard...

Thank you, committee. Is committee agreed we have concluded the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs?

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Committee, nobody else on the list. Are we agreed we are concluded Municipal and Community Affairs, activity summary, regional operations, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $28.002 million?

Thank you, Mr. Blake. I didn’t really hear a question there, but I’ll go to the Minister for comments.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. I didn’t really hear a question there, but I’ll go to Minister McLeod, if he wishes to comment.

I just wondered if we were going to have witnesses to answer our questions, if we have them.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I do have a number of comments I want to make with regard to the budget. They’re in no particular order. At the outset I want to say that I do support the fiscal policy that we are currently following. I do agree with the government that we have to kind of keep things down to a dull roar.

With that said, there is a real concern on the part of myself and many other Members that we are leaving ourselves open to increasing our deferred maintenance to increasing our infrastructure deficit. It’s entirely possible that we will be struggling if we don’t increase our capital...