Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a few comments in terms of the process and a lot of questions. We’ll save those for later, but some general comments.
I think the work that is being done by the committee that was undertaking the review of the capital planning process has been very good work. I felt that it was well thought out. They made considered and appropriate recommendations and suggestions for improvement and for changes. I think that as a first go-round this new process has a good chance of success, I guess, for lack of a better way of putting it. I support the process and the schedule, and I look forward to the positive results that hopefully will come out of it.
I do agree with Mr. Abernethy, who spoke earlier, about an evaluation. I think there needs to be some sort of evaluation of this particular process. Whether or not we can make a judgment one year from now remains to be seen, but I think we ought to specify that in a year from now, we will look at the success or failure of certain parts of this particular process. It is intended to reduce carry-overs, and we will have to see whether or not that is put into effect. It is supposed to result in better
tender results. We will have to see whether or not that is something that is going to come true. I think I heard the Minister commit to doing an evaluation. I would like to add my voice to that particular concern.
The Minister mentioned that we received an allocation of projects by constituency, by riding, by community. I think there is some indication, in looking at it, that there is an unbalanced allocation of capital. There are a couple of communities that have little to no capital projects in this next year, and there are certainly some projects that we saw in the Capital Plan for ’08–09 that are no longer in the Capital Plan for ’09–10, and that’s a concern. I understand that things were evaluated. Some were dropped; some were added.
My concern is this. Although we were given a great deal of material which substantiated each individual project, I never felt that I was given justification as to why project A was deleted and project B was instituted in its stead. So we lost one and gained one. I understand that we can always have input into which projects are going to be included and which are going to be dropped, but it might be of more benefit to Members if, in discussion with the Minister in trying to understand next year’s capital budget, we get a better justification of why one project is deleted and another one is inserted.
I did want to say the Minister indicated that there is going to be an emphasis on energy initiatives, and I do agree with that emphasis. I think what is being suggested is good. I think we are moving in the right direction as we move towards more provisioning of hydro power as opposed to the diesel that we are using now. So I would like to just indicate my support for that.
We have already done this, but the one time reduction of carry-overs I think was a good thing. If we can get to a carry-over dollar value that is indicative of what our real carry-over is, I think that is far better. I believe we are into making things as close to the truth as they can be and as rational as we can be.
In terms of the change to the schedule and the timing of the capital process it has been indicated to us, and I agree with this belief, that we need a change in the Financial Administration Act. I would encourage the government to go forward with the changes to that act as soon as possible. I don’t see any value in approving our capital budget in the fall but not allowing the money to be spent until April of the next year. The only way this system is going to work is if money can be expended earlier on so that we can enter into contracts between the fall and the next fiscal year.
I appreciate that this budget shows a fairly large emphasis on deferred maintenance. It’s an area to
me that this government has put a focus on, and I think it’s something that is much needed. We have a huge backlog in deferred maintenance, and that we’re starting to put an emphasis on it and put some money into it is a good thing.
The only other thing that I wanted to say is that we did not get information on the expenditures or the Infrastructure Acquisition Plan for the NWT Housing Corporation. I appreciate that with this change in timing the Minister wasn’t able to provide that to us at this time in the year. We’re advised in future years that, yes, we will get that information. I would just like to mention that I certainly hope that is the case. I think the Housing Corporation infrastructure should come through with all the other infrastructure plans for the whole of the government for the next fiscal year.
With that, I look forward to going into detail, and I will have some questions at that time. That is the end of my comments, Mr. Chairman.