Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regard to the way block funding seems to be arranged and practised in regard to discussion that has gone on so far today, it seems like there is not a real grasp of exactly who controls what. Especially in the way these funds have been allocated. The formula that is used to come up with these amounts, also the idea of communities having the ability to use these funds and move them around.
It worries me. You keep referring back to the example of the block funding arrangement for the different regions to block fund our regional fund to the different regions that are in place. In regard to the Beaufort Delta, it is through a negotiated process, yet in regard to the Keewatin, the formula, they seem like they want to take over infrastructure, operations and maintenance, capital, the whole works. It scares me to think that if this is the way we are dealing with this item, in this budget, and not having a grasp on exactly who is doing what and exactly what the amounts are for and exactly what the projects are going to be, I think we should really take a second look at exactly where this government is going, when it comes to regional empowerment. We are blocking block funding, everything lock, stock and barrel to any particular region with no controls or mechanisms in place to ensure accountability and the finances of this government are kept in tow. Someone has control of it from either the department or the Department of Finance or in this House. It seems like once we approve this budget, it is out of our hands. I thought with division coming around the corner, there are certain mechanisms that are in place where we have to know exactly what is the new government going to look like but also what control mechanisms which are in place to ensure this government is accountable, and how it goes forth with budgetary items. This is a good example. It is scary.
