Wendy Bisaro

Thanks for the explanation, but I think I’m even more confused now. These dollars in Work Performed on Behalf of Others — are they an expense or a revenue?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, June 2, 2008, I will move the following motion.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting days and hours as the Speaker, after consultation, deems fit to assist with the business before the House.

On page 7-42, the Protection Against Family Violence program figures: the ’08–09 estimates are some $30,000 less than the ’07–08 Revised Estimates and the Main Estimates. I’m just wondering if I could get an explanation as to why that particular activity or program has been reduced by $30,000. It’s a major focus of this government. It was a focus of our priorities when we set them in October. I’d appreciate some rationale for this reduction.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to share with all Members the comments in regard to the budget that I’ve been hearing from constituents. Not many are positive, unfortunately.

My constituents are asking for justification in public to explain the job reductions, to show why certain positions have been targeted. Most feel that the departments and/or managers did not do any analysis prior to determining which positions should go. Some decisions seemed to be based on a narrow view of personal opinion. Some used the eeny, meeny miny, moe method. Others took advantage of the opportunity...

We’ll have to start calling you Mr. Bisaro, I think.

I thank you for the answer. I guess, since it is my understanding that the government at this point can add funds into the budget, or can add items to the budget, I am wondering why the Minister wouldn’t consider a motion to amend the Mains to add those federal dollars into this ’08–09 budget.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to get an explanation. The Community Justice committees and projects amount in ’08–09 is $1.371 million, in ’07–08 it was $1.866 million, and I suspect the reduction is the $433,000-some that we were discussing earlier. But of the $1.371 million earmarked for these contributions, I’d like to know how much of that amount is federal dollars, and if I could also know where those dollars are reflected in the budget.

Speak to the discrepancy.

Thank you. I’d like to close debate here. I need to respond to some of the comments that have been made by some of the other Members.

I think the Social Programs Committee agrees that the Arctic Tern facility cannot continue in its current state, with the number of inmates compared to the number of staff members. It’s totally inefficient.

However, the Minister, to me, seems to continue to see only one option for that facility, and that’s to close it. As was mentioned by my colleague Mr. Krutko, there’s a definite opportunity to re-profile that facility. I want to emphasize that I don’t believe...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This $83,000 references a coordinator position for the Community Justice program within the Department of Justice. I feel quite strongly that the explanation the department gave us during our briefing wasn’t quite adequate.

One of the goals of the department is stated as, to increase the capacity and the role of communities to address Justice issues. And I think the department, along with this particular position as well as funding for various and sundry Community Justice projects, is pretty much gutting anything that Community Justice committees can do in our various...

I move that the 2008–2009 Main Estimates be amended by deleting $320,000 from the activity Community Justice and Corrections, under the Department of Justice, Capital Investment Expenditures, on page 6-9 of the Infrastructure Acquisition Plan, for the Territorial Women’s Correctional Centre replacement.