Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Lafferty on Wednesday, June 4 with respect to coming to consultations on the government's capital planning process. The deputy ministers task team on "meeting infrastructure requirements" includes the task to clarify core capital need and development of infrastructure policy framework. The objectives of the above task include:

• • the requirement to develop clarity between the government and communities on the types of infrastructure that will be funded;
• • the involvement of communities in the planning and decision-making;
• • community responsibilities on the maintenance and upkeep of infrastructure;
• • community contributions to capital projects;
• • how this government may address a balance between core service needs and community priorities; and
• • application of capital standards and criteria.

The community consultation undertaken this spring was intended to seek the communities' input into both the development of the 2004-2005 capital plan and the capital planning process, including the criteria applied in prioritizing projects. A consultant was engaged to review the current capital planning process and also to address how we may better provide for the needs of communities. The results of the consultants report and the community consultations will form the basis of a number of recommendations to enhance the capital planning process to better serve the needs of this government and communities. Thank you.