Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to an oral question, Question O228-12(2), asked by Mr. Gargan on March 2, 1992, regarding contribution agreements to communities. The arrangements that this department has with municipal corporations on their quarterly operating contributions are the same as they have been for some time.
As hamlets are a separate, distinct level of public government, unconditional hamlet funding is provided to the municipal corporations on a quarterly contribution basis. This procedure allows the hamlets to anticipate their revenue on a regular basis and to more accurately project their cash flow requirements.
However, special circumstances prevail for the 1992-93 fiscal year. Because the 1992-93 main estimates will not be introduced to the Legislative Assembly until June 1992, the government will operate on an approved interim appropriation from April until July. This interim appropriation will not allow us to provide a full second quarter contribution; so payments for July through September will be paid to hamlets on a monthly basis. Thank you.