Frame Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

I guess if there’s that much work that is ongoing and there’s a sheet that’s available, I’m curious why the Premier can’t provide that information to Regular Members on an ongoing basis. I guess I also want to say that if the information that we’re getting is the same information that’s already in the budget and in the business plans, I’m aware of that. I want to know specific actions, specific plans, specific programs that are being undertaken relative to these committees. So I’ll ask the Premier again: are there any specific accomplishments that the Cost of Living Strategic Initiatives...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

I hope these impressions of mine are overstated, but even if they are, the Executive Council must take note and do some soul searching. At this point in our term we all need to stop and check our pulse, make sure the heart is still active and beating strongly. Both sides of this House should be working full tilt for the next 20 months. There’s lots we can do if we keep our nose to the wheel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a number of comments. Many have been mentioned already, but I will re-emphasize them with my own take, I guess.

Initially, I want to say that I totally agree with the Minister’s statement that the current spending of the Health and Social Services system is not sustainable. I’ve had concerns, I think, since I arrived here, that every year the total cost seems to go up. I do hope that over this next year it will be galvanized by the lack of THAF funding if it doesn’t come through, but I hope that the department is going to be looking at all aspects.

I think, as...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

That’s an interesting challenge. I guess I would like to know from the Premier what time of day he’s coming up and down the halls, because I tend to be there most mornings. I have another question for the Premier. I’d like to know, relative to all this information, or all these accomplishments, all the work that’s going on that the Premier has referenced, how is that our public and our residents can become aware and be informed about the work of our Strategic Initiatives committees? Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Premier in relation to a number of the Strategic Initiatives committees. I spoke in my Member’s statement about my concern for the lack of accomplishments of a number of these committees and the lack of reporting from those committees back to Regular Members. So my first question to the Premier is to try to get some information about one of the Strategic Initiatives committees which is near and dear to the Regular Members’ hearts and where we haven’t seen any accomplishments that I’m aware of. So I’d like to ask the Premier if he could...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will use my statement today to air some frustrations; frustrations with our Executive Council and the behemoth of a bureaucracy that is our government. I find myself believing that even though we’re just over half way through our four-year term, I sense that our Executive Council, our leaders, those presumably taking charge and showing the way, that they’re placing less and less emphasis on working. I already see the downward slide or slowdown that I’m told sets in and immobilizes government in the last year of any Assembly’s life. This is certainly not...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, we’ve heard the Minister’s 2010 budget address and the main estimates have been tabled in the House. As I listened yesterday, I was struck by a particular statement in the Finance Minister’s address. He said that we’ll have to return to, “a sustainable path,” and, “maintain a tight rein on spending in the fiscal year following this new budget.”

I support our current level of spending and I support the same level of spending for the 2010-11 year as it’s laid out in the budget. But I recognize, as does the Minister, that we will have to reduce or cut back our...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I would like to change course just a tad. I’ve expressed a concern that we are probably going to see a reduction in our revenues over the next year to two years and I think the federal government, with a $60 billion deficit, is likely to take our grants and reduce them and I anticipate that’s probably going to start happening next year. So I would like to know from the Minister whether or not the program review office is taking that kind of an approach to reducing our expenditures. Are they considering that our revenues will probably be down and what are they...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 18)

Thank you. We could argue about the participation on the Strategic Infrastructure committees all day and I’ll leave that one for now, thank you very much. Perhaps the Minister and I could have a conversation later.

I’d like to ask, relative to the work of the program review office in the past year, if the work they’ve been doing in terms of education has not had an impact on the budget, I also understand there’s been some work in terms of medical travel and so on. I’d like to know whether or not that has had an impact on the budget. Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister mentioned a couple of areas. I can’t remember them both but he mentioned education. I would like to know whether or not, particularly in the area of education, whether the work of the program review office had a direct impact on the budget which we heard about yesterday. Thank you.