Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. So we have other expenses under other expenses. I just want to make a point here, Mr. Chairman. I wonder if the Minister as Minister of Finance could comment on whether or not there is any better way to be more transparent in the way we debate and pass budgets, Mr. Chairman. I do believe that the exercise we're engaged in here is very important. This is the money that we're approving for the government to spend on behalf of the people and the least we could do or ought to be able to know is what it is that we're allocating the budget for. I understand that you can only put so much on this booklet called main estimates and there is an agreement as to how we are going to categorize them and the four main areas that we have are compensation and benefits, grants and contributions, other expenses and amortization. I know that in many cases the grants and contributions section is very well laid out. I mean, something as small as $10,000 in grants are laid out. But for some reason there's a practice, and it seems to be accepted, that other expenses items will go unnoticed or at least it continues to be lumped up. FMBS is one of the smaller departments in this area, but as we move on we're going to see divisions in some departments under other expenses that amount to millions of dollars and I think it's incumbent on all of us to know what it is, how those dollars are allocated. I would further submit that it's the Minister's obligation to show us. Having said all that, can I now ask for the Minister to give a breakdown of what the details are under other expenses in the amount $689,000? Thank you.
Sandy Lee on Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on March 19th, 2004. See this statement in context.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 18th, 2004
Page 107
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