I’d like to thank the Minister of Finance, FMBS and the Premier for being here this afternoon to discuss the interim appropriation. I just have a few comments.

I don’t want to go over everything. I agree with much of what my colleagues have been saying, especially when it comes to energy efficiency and the capital planning process, which I certainly would endorse needs to be addressed. I also would strongly back up the opinion of my colleagues that Regular Members need to be included in the discussion on revamping the capital acquisition or infrastructure acquisition planning process here in the government of the Northwest Territories. We need to be at the table when that’s discussed. I’m not sure which vehicle that may take. I know we need to find a way to be included and not excluded from that process.

A couple of observations, I guess, if I could. I don’t want to go over everything, but the dementia facility here in Yellowknife is kind of out of the box in terms of a way of getting a piece of public infrastructure built. It’s a much-needed facility, and I echo the comments Mr. Bromley had earlier. We need to move forward with this much-needed piece of infrastructure.

We seem to be always spending money on this FIS system and software and other things associated with the Financial Information System of the government of the Northwest Territories. I’ve been around now for five years, and it seems to me that every year there’s a substantial amount of dollars, millions of dollars, being spent in this area of our operation. I have trouble understanding why we’re still getting reports that are printed on antiquated, out-of-date systems. During this last summer we got a copy of the contracts report over $5,000. It came to us in a format that they were using in the 1980s, it seems to me. Where are we spending this money on the Financial Information System?

I would agree, Mr. Chairman, that we need to spend the money, but when are we going to get the evidence that the money that we’re spending is actually making a difference and we are going to have access to financial information at the drop of a dime? I’m talking about specific, detailed information that right now, to be honest with you, Mr. Chairman, I don’t think we can just pull off just like that. I might be mistaken, but I don’t think I am. I really do believe we need to look at this area, especially in terms of getting the information. It’s going to be money well spent, but I’m just trying to understand why we’re spending all the money and we’re still having these reports that aren’t what I think a government the size of the Northwest Territories should be producing, Mr. Chairman.

I’d just be going over old ground if I continued on, Mr. Chairman, so with that, I’ll leave it at that.