Debates of May 14, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about how and why sustainable and standard design for public infrastructure could help everyone by delivering better products at lower costs. Mr. Speaker, whether it’s the designers, the engineers, the community, even government officials and MLAs, I mean, everyone wants the design to the maximum dollars put into the budget and they seem to always want more. One more thing, Mr. Speaker, always wants overtake needs. Has the Minister of Public Works and Services ever considered adopting a template format for construction of public buildings with a modular format so that they can easily be expanded to accommodate future needs of public infrastructure and community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been working with departments and also we are looking at the whole energy conservation design of public infrastructure in regards to making sure that we do bring down the cost, but more importantly that we do have something that’s affordable and meets our budget amounts. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister today commit in this House that he would go out to some type of public consultation to engage our engineers and architects on coming up with sustainable design principles for all our public government infrastructures so the percentage of cost overruns are minimized? For a note to that, Alaska has 15 percent as an acceptable overrun. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do have an interdepartmental committee that’s looking at the whole area of infrastructure. Again, this could be one of the issues that they look at. Again, we are trying to ensure that we find ways not only to deliver our existing infrastructure, but more importantly the infrastructure going forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Mr. Speaker, I think I heard the Minister say yes, but I’ll let him re-clarify. Mr. Speaker, specifically to schools, health clinics, and seniors’ facilities, has the department ever done a historical cost overrun overview by doing a 360 degree design evaluation to ensure that bad designs are re-evaluated and that they haven’t turned into maintenance nightmares? Further, are we building our buildings for the 1,500-year life expectancy, or are we just designing them to be maintained for the rest of their life? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do design and build to ensure that the capital investment that we are making is there for the long term. Again, we are ensuring that the quality of that infrastructure is going to be able to maintain itself over 30 to 40 years. So again, it is a part of the design, construct, and more importantly ensuring the energy conservation and the style that we use is cost efficient. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of Public Works and Services monitor the percentage difference between contract bids and contract payments and, if so, what is an acceptable percentage if things are over? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to the cost of construction, in most cases we have a rough estimate of what we expect the price to come in on. Again, we do look at what else is happening in other areas, what’s in general contracting area, what’s happening in the industry, so again we do try to ensure that we do come up with a number that meets our requirements, but more importantly that we can afford to build at that cost and not to build something that’s extreme where we cannot afford it. Thank you.