Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Finance from whom I received the written reply to my written question of May 19th regarding the cost to this government of supporting the Mackenzie Gas Project.
In my question, I asked the cost by year during the 16th Assembly for costs such as (b) travel and receptions by Ministers, MLAs and other officials, (c) staff positions and contractor services, and (d) communications, planning promotional events, publicity and advertising.
The tabled response I received, however, is inadequate and almost evasive. It does not supply the costs specifically requested by category in b, c or d. The amounts are lumped into mass totals by year and not detailed by the activities requested. Can the Minister tell me whether he will provide these amounts under the specific categories requested in my written question? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The information we provided gives a significant overview. The Member has requested more detail. I will commit to check with the officials to see whether we can pull that type of information together with any kind of alacrity. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate that response from the Minister. I had very good reasons, of course, for asking this detail. For example, the tabled response gives a sole identifiable cost of a particular trip to Calgary as $1,455. However, I have learned that this one trip listed as $1,455 actually cost several times this for travel plus additional costs for hospitality, media and consultant services. So $21,000, in fact, is a far cry from the $1,455 listed. I am not saying that it is not in the total response from the Minister, but it is very difficult to determine. Again, will the Minister assure that the information is in there so I can sort those details out? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the Member’s other source of information is, but in my previous answer I made a commitment that I will check with officials and I will honour that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
