Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have some very brief comments about the economic development side relating, in particular, to loans and grants. I'm very concerned, as an MLA and based on my own personal knowledge of what goes on, at least in my riding, with making sure that whatever processes we have, whatever corporations we have set up are as politically tamper-proof as possible. In my opinion, there is a great tendency to politically influence what should be business decisions, sometimes to the detriment of wise business decisions. I think we have to remove the politics as much as possible from this economic development part of the government. We've spent, over the years, a lot of money. My own perception is that, in a lot of cases, in the old days it was almost like a big political slush fund where you could make things happen if you thought they were good or if the people were on the right side of the fence. I'm very interested in working with the new department as it develops, in this Assembly, to make sure it will become much more effective and efficient, from a business point of view, and that we're very tenacious and resolute in the recovery of bad loans and that we send a very clear message that we're here to do business. Thank you.
Michael Miltenberger on Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
In the Legislative Assembly on May 13th, 1996. See this statement in context.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
May 12th, 1996
Page 322
See context to find out what was said next.