Thank you,

Ms.

Magrum. Other questions on page 11-13?

Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I noticed that under Contract Services there’s almost a $300,000 increase from last year. I’d just like to know what that $300,000 increase is for and exactly where that is being expended.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That was our portion of the supp reserve that was divided up among departments.

Could the Minister elaborate a little more on this supp reserve? I thought we had a major deficit problem — we’re laying people off — and now we’ve got a reserve. That’s pretty interesting.

Mr. Chairman,

historically there’s a supplementary reserve that the government has that’s usually kept in a central location, and it is drawn down. In this case, what was done is that the supplementary reserve — I’m not sure; I can’t recollect how big it was — was

divided up on basically a proportional basis among all the departments. The money the Member references is what ENR’s share of that supplementary reserve was or is.

Contract services usually means that you have an actual contract with someone to provide a service. I’d just like to know. It just doesn’t seem like there’s that fit there, you know, because it falls under the category of Contract Services. I was under the impression, by it being under that line item, that you increased contract services with someone who provides a service to this department. I’d just like to know why. What’s the reasoning behind putting it under that heading?

Mr. Chairman, this is a new arrangement. It was put there as a place to hold it as we sort out how it’s going to be drawn down in the coming months.

Normally we would be going back to FMB with a supplementary request for funds. Now we’ve been given our share and told we have to account for it. We don’t have a clear spot at this point within our accounting structure, so it was just decided to put it in the contract services.

Thank you,

Mr.

Miltenberger. Anything further, Mr.

Krutko?

Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just on the note of the supp reserve: is it allocated at this time, or is it just being treated as unallocated money?

Mr. Chairman, at this point, it’s still relatively early in the year. It’s mainly sitting there. But I’ll ask the deputy to speak to the issue of potential plans for the supp reserve.

Thank you. Mr. Bohnet.

Thank you, Mr. Bohnet. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you,

Mr. Chairman. While we’re looking at some of those potential initiatives, the other thing with the supp reserve to keep in mind for us is that it was divided up among departments with the understanding that we wouldn’t be coming back to the FMB for further funding. So we have to, as well, try to keep a reserve to allow for contingencies that may be unforeseen at this point or requirements that may come up that aren’t budgeted for. We have to be careful how we use this funding, because under the current rules there is no going back to FMB at this point.

Thank you,

Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to be clear — and I thank Mr. Bohnet for his answer. Really, it sounds like it had the earmarks, to some degree or not, of a project that didn’t, obviously, make it to print here. I just wanted to make sure it’s being used for what it was intended for. Ultimately, although I see in here projects potentially on the list such as, you know, Mr. Bohnet had broken out, I just wondered if you’d had it already tagged to other things.

As I understand, some other departments have already in some form or another allocated some of their supp reserve money. I wanted to see if it was just being treated as cash, as a rainy-day fund, which I was certainly hoping it would be, or was it relatively allocated? That’s what I wanted to know about it.

Thank you,

Mr.

Hawkins. No question there, I guess. Any

further questions? Yes, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to move a motion.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Go ahead.

The motion is being distributed. The motion has been distributed. The motion is in order. To the motion, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe the department has to be transparent. They have to be visible in our communities, not run out of town ten kilometres and think they cannot provide a service. I think it’s crucial that this department…. It’s fundamental, especially for our harvesters and people in communities who depend on this department to assist them, and especially our trappers and hunters, in regard to issues such as fur sales. The first I’ve heard of talk about a storefront and whatnot here….

This motion just basically supports that idea that Inuvik has to have some storefront presence in the community. By simply moving out to Shell Lake and assuming it’s comfortable for everybody, I don’t feel comfortable doing that. Also, I know constituents I’ve talked to want to be able to be assured that they can have these services provided, especially as Inuvik is our regional centre. A lot of people from outside Inuvik go into Inuvik and meet with the people within this department and also meet with other departments and have to run all over the place.

The government should consider a service model and ensure that services are being distributed and offered fairly to everyone. We talk about decentralization, we talk about bringing services closer to the people and the communities, yet in this case it seems like the decision’s been made with no consideration for the people we serve.

That’s why I’m bringing this motion forward. If the Minister’s comment is true, the main thing this motion could do is to support the storefront operation in Inuvik, which is a little bit of a remedy to having this move out of the community. At least we’ll have some presence in the downtown core in Inuvik and not simply have to drive all the way out to Shell Lake to see the people who should be providing the service in the downtown core. I’d just like to move the motion in regard to that ability, where I for one feel we’re losing an opportunity.

Most harvesters right now…. Going back over the years, old Slim used to have his store practically right on the location where they go now to provide their services, and they’ve been doing that for quite some time. I think the location is not only unique to the department, it also has a lot of history to it. I’d just like the department to seriously consider having a presence continue on in the town of Inuvik and not outside of it.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. To the motion, Mr. Miltenberger.