Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to start off with, again, like I said yesterday, I think the government has to be given a certain amount of credit for getting the substantial capital
dollars that we see here before us. Like I said yesterday, it’s unprecedented. I know the Minister spoke of it in his opening comments as well. It’s good for a number of reasons. Obviously, the downturn in the economy is taking its toll on all areas of the country and the world, for that matter, and the Northwest Territories is no different. So the importance of this money getting out and getting onto the ground, into the communities, into contractors’ hands and into the local economy can’t be underestimated. I think even if we’re at a 75 percent clip, that the thing that I think we really need to keep our eye on, especially right now, is getting this money out the door and getting these projects started, constructed and concluded in the fastest way that we possibly can. I think that money will work for us even more if we can do that, get the money out the door. I believe the Minister said 75 percent. I think the carry-over, if 75 percent is the number we’re using on $470 million, that’s about $112 million or thereabouts, but that’s still too much.
I think, looking back over past budgets, we’ve hired a number of individuals in various departments to try to get these carry-overs addressed and get the projects started, constructed and concluded. I guess I just want some more assurance, and I haven’t seen a great improvement -- I know this is only the second year and I think it is certainly a step in the right direction -- but this is something I think we need to keep our eye on and we need to have some indicators as to whether or not it’s actually getting any better and improving. Because we’ve hired a number of people and we’ve got the money, but let’s make sure we’re spending it and getting it out there.
I guess that’s a question I’d have to the Minister, is what indicators are there going forward that the carry-overs are going to be addressed in a meaningful way and they’re not going to be...You know, if it’s 75 percent this year that we’re spending, I want to make sure it’s 85 or 90 percent next year government-wide, not just the Department of Public Works and Services.