Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When the committee reviewed the Department of Economic Development's budget the most obvious example to the committee was the government's decision that capital estimates tend to be driven, or not driven, by cost-benefit analysis. By that, we mean, "We are going to build a park here. We think there are going to be some jobs. We are going to do this here and we think there is going to be some economic activity."
The committee was concerned that in these times of fiscal restraint, and that it is important to understand that, if we really have the luxuries of some of these expenditures; whether they are visitors' centres, heritage sites, Thule areas, given that there are items of, perhaps, more priority; feeding people and clothing people and housing people.
We felt at the time, I repeat, because of the limitations in these difficult times that a number of these programs -- the department certainly seems to be accelerating, particularly in the visitors' centres -- a number of these programs may, in fact, be what we define in difficult financial times as luxuries.
With respect to the NWT Development Corporation, the previous standing committee on finance was promised a presentation on policies and procedures which we understand was never presented. We are still not sure, to date, that these policies and procedures are in place, and we do not know how the corporation spent $11.8 million when only ten million dollars was appropriated last year. Although, the Minister did indicate there was a $1.8 million carry-over. Now we are being asked to appropriate eight million dollars for the corporation and we feel it is essential that we get a detailed copy of their management systems and controls. We did not have it at the time we reviewed the budget, Mr. Pollard, as you well know, and it certainly was not in place the previous year, as you well know, because you alluded to it as chairman of the standing committee on finance, and that is the point that we are trying to make here. You cannot go spending $20 million worth of money unless we know who is spending it, why we are spending it, and what is the net effect of spending it.
With respect to Economic Development's budget, we really do not have too much difficulty with it. We feel that cabinet should re-examine the priorities from a cost-benefit basis in light of our fundamental needs. In other words, it is no different with this department as we have said with others. If we are going to have a long-term economic problem we have to determine if building visitors' centres, building parks, et cetera, takes priority over building houses, feeding people, and clothing people. It may seem a little idealistic but we have to take a look at the fundamental needs of Northerners.
We also feel that the NWT Development Corporation should provide us with policies and procedures to the committee that will ensure value for its capital investment. There was also a fair amount of concern by some Members of the standing committee on finance, that this development corporation may end up competing, if you want, in the broadest terms, with other interests out there. In particular, with the significant investment of Mr. Patterson's sawmill in Hay River. The point the committee wanted to make, in simple terms, was if you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it. They have to find a way to ensure that the money spent is bringing some net effect to the Northwest Territories. That is it. Thank you.