Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not arguing that we shouldn't invest and make substantive investment in this kind of infrastructure so that we get good value, it lasts a long time, and the lifecycle costs of running it are as low as we can get them. My question though, Mr. Chairman, is when we're presented with a budgeted cost for something, the experience of recent years has been that we can anticipate that the project is going to cost about 15 percent more by the time it's done than what we were told at the beginning. This project here, which is going to run over three years, from the $19.5 million we were told about last year...We shouldn't kid ourselves. We're potentially looking at a 23, 24 or maybe $25 million project by the time it's done based on our current experience. My question, Mr. Chairman, is what controls, what measures does the Minister have to ensure that the cost stays at the amount that we approve? Yes, I certainly understand when the Minister says the Department of Education doesn't have that expertise, but the Minister of Education is responsible for the dollars that are on the page here and that is where I'm asking for his degree of supervision, his control and responsibility for delivering the project as budgeted, Mr. Chairman.
Bill Braden on Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 21st, 2007. See this statement in context.
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 20th, 2007
Page 1089
See context to find out what was said next.