Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when the government introduced a new corporate capital planning process last year, we were told that the preliminary five-year plan is first reviewed by a deputy ministers' steering committee, then it is reviewed by the Financial Management Board prior to its review by standing committees. The final approval is given when presented in the main estimates to the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker, this new process was introduced and implemented without any input from Members on this side of the House. I am particularly concerned about an apparent expansion in the role the deputy ministers' steering committee plays in setting priorities for capital spending. Mr. Speaker, while I recognize that ultimately Ministers and Members of the Legislative Assembly are accountable to the public on how public money is voted on and spent, the capital review committee is composed entirely of deputy ministers. Mr. Speaker, with this approach, Ministers may never know about all the projects proposed or which ones were dropped from consideration. Certainly, Members are not able to get that level of detail when reviewing business plans. If the details of the process remain more transparent, Mr. Speaker, the public and Members of this Legislature would know about the consultations that have taken place. You would hear about the projects that were initially proposed and which ones were non-starters. Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, we would know how the deputy ministers review committee arrived at their last capital spending priority recommendations for the Financial Management Board. Mr. Speaker, because it is unfair to both myself and other Members of this House just how the final decisions are made, I have to form my own judgments and conclusions about how projects are justified. I know that the capital budget is limited, Mr. Speaker, and that there is not much money to go around. Let's satisfy the public and ourselves that what we do have to spend is adequately and reasonably justified. Mr. Speaker, I have always advocated for an open and transparent government. I strongly believe that the capital planning process is transparent as well and the reasons for decisions to remove or include projects should be communicated to all concerned. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause