Well, you know, it's ironic, Mr. Chairman. We're going to need more than four RCMP just to keep escorting these people back and forth. We're going to be taking RCMP out of circulation to do this. So it's kind of a catch-22 situation. Mr. Chairman, ever since the business plans came forward and the main estimates came forward and standing committees made their recommendations, even since then there has been initiatives discussed with us, I don't want to get into the detail of them, that indicate new investments on the part of this government for expanding government, for adding positions for various functions which this government considers a priority. So it's not quite as simple as the fact that there is no money. What the Minister really means is there is no money for this. There's no money for this remand service, which is offered at the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre. That's what he means because I'm sure as we speak there are things right now in the supplementary appropriation and things that will be coming forward in further supplementary appropriations that will require expenditures to be voted in this House, commitments of finances to be voted in this House to expand on things which this government considers a priority. I'm saying that judging by what you've heard from Members here and what you've heard from the recommendation of the standing committee, surely the Minister can see that there is fairly solid support for seeing the continuation of this service. What is it going to take? I'm not asking the Minister to promise me that FMBS is going to come back and say yes. I'm asking him if he will go back to FMBS and ask for the $267,000 he needs to continue this service for remand in Hay River. That's what I'm asking him to do. I'm not asking him to promise what the outcome is, I'm asking him to take it back. Will he make that commitment? Thank you.
Jane Groenewegen on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on March 7th, 2005. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 7th, 2005
Page 1839
See context to find out what was said next.