Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we go through this process of reviewing the budget, I would like to take note of comments that two of our Ministers have made recently in this House. The first is from the Minister of Education who, yesterday in his introductory remarks, stated "We are also proposing to reduce the capital programs from $35 million last year to about $25 million in 1996-97. This will be done mostly by delaying many planned projects for a year."

The second comment was made by the Minister of Community Affairs where she stated, "There are too many instances where buildings lie empty in the evening and unused on weekends, when they can be used for hosting a variety of educational, cultural and recreational activities." She says, "Joint-use facility agreements can help local groups access facilities after working hours."

Mr. Speaker, as we deliberate over this budget, I would ask my fellow Members to take heed of these two statements and look at implementing further delays to projects that will not negatively impact community life. We can, as Mrs. Thompson suggests, use existing facilities in communities for other activities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.