Caroline Wawzonek

In favour.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And as I mentioned earlier, Madam Chair, there is an existing commitment to look at the Fiscal Responsibility Policy so this certainly may well be that opportunity. And similarly, as I had said, there's ongoing work happening with respect to the reporting on contracting and procurement more generally. So this may also be that opportunity to again to look there. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair, there already is a commitment out there to review the fiscal responsibility policy. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Well, Madam Chair, I suppose there's a few different ways that one might do that. Certainly when there's a particular projects that are being followed along, that's certainly one way, and I certainly answered questions on ITI projects for instance, or some of the finance systems projects. I recognize that's not necessarily the broad brushstroke that's being sought here.

You know, it may well be that we need a different type of tracking system that monitors and tracks the delivery of projects. That's certainly you know, when we're talking about or "we", when I have...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, they are tracking over the course of several years and, in fact, I think I've looked at the data for approximately ten years as to the percentage. And the percentage does vary, but the approximate amount that we are spending year over year doesn't change that much aside perhaps from a couple of years of COVID where things were a little bit tighter than unusual and more difficult to go out and spend. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I don't have the breakdown or the details of the project specifically here. What we have in front of us here, really just information about carryovers or lapses. But, so I don't think so. I will confirm that and let the Member know. But my understanding and recollection of this project is that it was being specially designed. It was specially designed to be CFIA compliant and under the sort of the watchful eyes of Memorial University who had some specialty in this area. So with all that, I know that they were looking largely at new things and new equipment...

I'll direct that to the deputy secretary, please.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, there's a couple of different reasons for it. Approximately $1.8 million is due to increased costs of equipment, and that in itself is in turn due to the changes globally right now. It's a specialized equipment, and it's being impacted by the supply chain delays and being impacted by the costs on some of the basic components that go into the equipment.

There is additional amounts increased as a result of change orders. There were some delays in this project as you might recall, and as time is going on, it does seem like all costs are rising rather quickly...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, let me take that one away. I will say we have changed the way we report on materials and information over the last few years, and I will go and have some conversations about what is here, what reasons there may be for and against, and get back to the House with that information.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, my understanding at this point is that this is still at a strategic stage and as such, I don't expect it entirely guarantees the full delivery of the new system. That said, it is certainly an important and critical sort of step in that regard. So I do expect to hear more from this over the next year, certainly over the life of this government. Thank you, Madam Chair.