Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In addition to needing to review the present water and sewer system subsidy program in itself, we are also participating in a government-wide analysis of the way various utilities subsidies are managed to ensure that they are based on solid logic and foundation. The water and sewer program was capped in 1996, in that time period, a formula was put in place and the Member correctly says there was no incentive put into that system for communities that were running efficiently. In defense of some communities, they cost out higher because of where they draw their water from, the distances to water sources and some of those costs. There needs to be some form of incentive built into the program, and how that fits in with the overall move of the department to a formula-funded basis of operation. Part of our discussions will deal with the communities and the whole aspect of incentives. I believe that another Member raised the same sort of issue of the need for incentives for those communities that run well.
Mr. Murray on Recommendation 1
In the Legislative Assembly on June 29th, 2000. See this statement in context.
Recommendation 1
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
June 29th, 2000
Page 338
Murray
See context to find out what was said next.