Wendy Bisaro

Mr. Chair, there are a number of projects related to offender facilities: the North Slave Correctional Centre, the North Slave Young Offenders Facility. They all seem to be new projects; they don't seem to be ongoing projects. I understand that the rationale is the work needs to be done during the spring and summer months. I can't debate that, but I can debate the merit of the projects.

Specifically, one that stands out is an aboriginal healing and spiritual program area. I question whether or not that's urgent enough that it needs to be included in this appropriation. If I could get an...

I'll revise my thought. I will ask the question: why can this project not be left until the full budget in May-June?

Mr. Chair, I thank the Minister for that explanation.

I guess I would urge the government to consider extending the time span of the Evergreen Project. If we're currently on five years, I would ask them to consider changing the term — the lifespan of equipment — to, say, six years, to try and save some money. I know that's debatable, but that's my suggestion.

I do have a question with regard to a project which doesn't seem to be an ongoing project. There are renovations to the vital records processing and storage facility, and I'm wondering about the urgency of that project.

I wanted to ask a question relative to the FIS system. I understand that it’s an ongoing project, but I would like to know whether or not there is an urgency to this project. My understanding is that these capital projects that we’re looking at in this interim appropriation are those that have a sense of urgency or they’re under contract or there’s a safety issue required. So if the Minister could advise if there’s an urgency to this project, as much as it’s needed. I ask that question. Thank you.

I am sorry that I didn’t hear you for the loud applause.

In my short time here as MLA, we’ve talked much about energy, the environment and climate change. It is accepted that as human beings, we are hurting our house — our planet. Some say that we are destroying it.

It is also accepted that we can take actions to reduce the hurt. Members have discussed many of these actions: building codes and standards, reducing energy consumption, less hurtful energy sources, water conservation to name just a few. I sense a willingness on the part of this government to take action, but I see no indication of...

That's all, thank you.

Mr. Chair, just one last comment. It’s very difficult for me to suggest that this project should be removed without knowing whether or not there's an urgency. I would just ask that we be provided with that information the next time we go through this process.

Mr. Chair, I understand that storage is important. But again, with no prior-years’ expenditures, I really wonder why this project is included in the interim appropriation and would suggest that it probably could be left until the full budget. There is no question there. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I have a similar question relative to the infrastructure upgrades for the Technology Service Centre. I understand that we do have a greening program for our technology and evergreen program — or whatever the title is. However, I’m wondering again as to the urgency. There’s a fair amount of money that’s involved in these upgrades and server replacements, I think. So again, I ask the question whether or not there is a sense of urgency to these projects and if they cannot wait until May/June when we look at the whole capital plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am in agreement with my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen in her comments, but I would like to make a few of my own. I’ve mentioned previously that I feel there’s a necessity for us to take a different mentality in regard to our budgeting and our fiscal planning.

I spoke the other day about living within our means and establishing a budget which more closely reflects the actual costs that this government incurs over a year’s period. I know this is an interim appropriation, but I want to re-emphasize that it is extremely important that we change the way we budget, in my view...