Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today the honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, launched a web page called actionplan.gc.ca. Mr. Speaker, it is a way to keep the government accountable for the way that they are spending money. It is a way that everyday Canadians can watch where their investments are going.
Mr. Speaker, just recently we passed the NWT budget for this fiscal coming year. Mr. Speaker, a lot of times, the question comes up as where does the money go from there? It is difficult for the everyday person to follow where that spending is going and how they can keep track of it. Mr. Speaker, for example, there is almost $17.5 million in energy investments coming in this year’s budget but a lot of people won’t see it or be able to follow it. I am suggesting that the Minister of Finance should consider an action plan that demonstrates quarterly reports that shows where our money is going in a plain, simple language that every person can follow.
Mr. Speaker, it is about accountability and following the money. A lot of times, this injection is needed. As we all know, with this global recession going on, the last thing we need is approved public money to sit and not do anything.
Mr. Speaker, the biggest complaint I often hear, as well, is the fact that capital money gets carried over. In my years as an MLA, I have heard every excuse in the book and it always seems to be justified in the end. This would put better pressure on the government to make sure that once they get approved money, they start spending it on the projects they promise. Mr. Speaker, this could be a better way to be more accountable by this Legislature to the everyday citizen making sure that we are spending their money the way we promised they would, both accountable and to the needs that we promised that we would solve and deal with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.