Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I noticed on yesterday’s DOT summary or statements or information here or the review, the tolls were a little bit less than this interest allowance here of 8.1 for the last couple of year. I am just wondering if we are making any money if our toll revenues are less than what the interest is. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Looking at the financial shared services and then the third sub-entry here, other program costs, can the Minister just elaborate a little bit what that expense is in a little bit more detail? I notice $1-million reduction in there as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am glad to see the wording, “improve community capacity.” It is really common in these smaller communities that they lack financial bookkeeping skills. Within this budget, is there allowance for somebody from the regional office with financial management skills and preferably auditing skills to go in and support the communities and their bookkeeping systems? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. My last statement is more of a comment I would say. In many of the cases in the smaller communities it’s good to know that the finances are there and the support is there and I would encourage the department to randomly, I would say, go into some of the communities and do an audit on their fire truck, for example. In some cases we hear stories they can’t even get the fire truck going, or they go to the site and find out the water pump doesn’t work so they’ve got to call the private sector or the hamlet’s water truck, for example. Maybe that kind of audit support...

No, I didn’t have my hand up there, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Then my other question is further up on the Deh Cho Bridge. If I remember the numbers of yesterday, it seemed like the total revenue is a little bit lower than the interest here. Are we making any money? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Going back to the New Building Canada Plan, here, I’d like the compliment the department on accessing those federal dollars. I first witnessed this this past winter, where one of the communities in my area has access for three different projects. Now you’re starting to see a new utility or upgrade, a new cement floor in the arena, so they can make use of the building during the summer months rather than wait for frozen ice. We’re going to see a loss of dust as a result of a new chipseal upgrade on our road system, so it captures the intent of the program, and I know this...

Yes, it seemed like it's a program. I get this sort of activity initiative here, but if it's including four different departments, are four different departments putting money towards this system or this support or this initiative?

Well, I just think, Mr. Chair, it's a good initiative and it's part of the housekeeping on straightening out the Lands Act to reflect our new position as new lands owner underneath the devolution transfer. So I think that's good management and I was just wondering on the short term, are we going to be seeing any short term initiatives towards that say within the next 24 months? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just noticed on this page here you've got purchased services, and I assume that rise in there is probably due to some consulting/hiring charges, and if so can the Minister explain the increase? That'll be one of two questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.