Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In February and March, Members of this House spent seven weeks reviewing and approving the territorial budget. When we finished, we had given clear direction for the upcoming year's operations and maintenance and capital expenditures. I had a firm idea of what projects would be undertaken. Apparently, I was mistaken. Within days of finishing the budget, I got a press

release that said, Finance Minister Todd and Transportation Minister Antoine have identified $2 million to do a transportation study.

Now, I am all for such a study, Mr. Speaker. It is badly needed. We never discussed this in this House, nor did we approve a budget for this study. Nor, was the Standing Committee of Resources, of which I am a Member, ever made aware of this project. The question, of course, is where did this money come from?

Also, during the February/March session we discussed the P3 process. We passed a 13-point motion for Cabinet to live within certain guidelines. A week after the session, I got another press release, one that announced Finance Minister Todd had unveiled a list of P3 projects to be undertaken this year.

Again, I am all for projects and for the P3, but again, we never discussed these projects in this House, and we should have. What happens to the $3.170 million that we approved in this year's budget for some of these projects? Is there a pool of money for projects that do not have to come before this House? If so, it makes a farce of consensus government and a mockery of democracy.

I believe the people of the NWT are tired of this apparent lack of transparency. I will be pursuing this through questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause