Mr. Minister.

What was the question again, Mr. Chairman?

Mrs. Marie-Jewell, would you repeat the question, please.

Mr. Chairman, my question is, is the funding and the scope of the work required for an expansion of the system, to expand the network? What I'm saying is, if this money requested is being requested for making the system compatible as opposed to expanding the system, then he is not expanding the network. He is making it compatible. He is trying to standardize the equipment. That is different from expanding the network. Is that correct?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is both. We expanded the POL on health programs. They work on the Hewlett Packard computers. All the PC computer systems are compatible with the Hewlett Packard mainframe system. So, they are all compatible, and we are expanding them. Thank you.

Thank you. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

So, therefore, this system that is being looked at is not only to expand the network in regard to what is required by the GNWT but also the compatibility. Even though the Minister doesn't know what type of system he has in place, whether they're compatible or not, and he recognizes that his officials are not technicians and they wouldn't be able to give him an answer.

I would like to ask the Minister about the funding required. I'm specifically speaking about the $60,000, not the $150,000. This funding last year was to deal with decentralization. It is also for implementation of computer systems for the social assistance system that we have in place. Is the Minister basically saying that the demand on the data communication enhancement system will be less this coming year?

Thank you. Mr. Minister, the concern is about the $60,000. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, no.

Thank you. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If the demand is not greater this year than it was last year, then one other problem I have with regard to this is that he is asking for less money but he wants to expand the network. At the same time, when you look at last year's funding, there were probably some of the same reasons for the amount they came in with then. However, Mr. Chairman, during the year, the Minister admitted coming in with a supplementary estimate for $340,000. Is the Minister stating he will not come in with any additional supplementary funding for systems and communications?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The funding that I am requesting here tonight, the total of $210,000, is more than I requested last year. If you take into consideration the one-time supplementary that was needed because of the decentralization of this government, then I don't foresee any need for any other supplementary this year, at this time. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Chairman, the Minister indicated that he currently doesn't foresee a need for any supplementaries this year. But, I would like the Minister to state that he will commit that he will not bring in any supplementaries for systems and communications for this coming year.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, I couldn't possibly do that. One thing I haven't been capable of doing yet is foreseeing the future, being able to read the future. Once I'm capable of doing that, I would be able to make that type of commitment. But, at this time, I'm unable to do that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Member for Thebacha.

You know, Mr. Chairman, first of all, there is no need for ignorant comments like that from the Minister and we don't anticipate any Minister to be able to foresee the future. But one of the responsibilities we place on a Minister is, we expect them to budget accordingly. We expect them to try to stay within the budgets that they present to this House. Last year, there was over $250,000 asked of this House, through a supplementary appropriation, up and over the initial budget the Minister presented. We were kind enough in this House to approve that supplementary.

However, since he didn't budget accordingly last year, I want to ensure that he attempts to budget accordingly this year. He has asked for less money than he spent last year. So, therefore, I am asking him to commit to this House that he will not bring in a supplementary appropriation for possibly $500,000 or another $250,000. I'm trying to avoid having the Minister come in with a supplementary appropriation. I've asked him, and I'll ask him again, will he commit to not bringing in a supplementary for systems and communications and to ensure that he is making every attempt to budget accordingly. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Last year we came into this House with $180,000 for the budget. We have stuck to that. We had to come forward with a $340,000 supplementary because of decentralization. That was a government initiative and we, as a service department, have to service those departments. It was a government initiative that increased the budget. It was a one-time thing. I take budgeting very seriously and I will make every attempt to stick to this budget I've come forward with. My department did not draw the budget up out of the sky. It is a fairly solid number and I'll make every effort to stick to that number, the $210,000.

Thank you. Member for Thebacha.

So, therefore, Mr. Chairman, will the Minister commit to this House that he will not come in with extra funding or extra supplementary requests, with respect to systems and communications? Thank you.