Agreed. Next page, page 6, Education, Culture and Employment,

capital investment expenditures, advanced education and careers, not previously authorized, $460,000. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to see some investment in our smaller communities in terms of three community learning centres. Costs are partially offset it says by the federal Knowledge Infrastructure Fund. Perhaps the Minister can correct me if I am wrong, but when they came up with these three projects, they had to kind of be spur of the moment. I think this is part of the Stimulus Fund from the federal government.

In terms of lack of facilities in the smaller communities, I have been speaking at length with regard to the library in Fort Simpson. I am just wondering if they are looking for new projects or if this Knowledge Infrastructure Fund project will end this fiscal year or is that something that can be taken up next year and will they consider assisting rebuilding the library in Fort Simpson as a potential project. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This program was over two years looking for the term of shovel-ready projects focussed on assisting post-secondary institutions. So this fund is very specific. The issue the Member has raised about his library is going to be addressed through ECE through other processes and other funding pots. Thank you.

The Minister is absolutely right; there is ongoing work and some of the parameters around some of the stimulus funding has always been shovel ready, which means all the groundwork and all the costing and all the preplanning pretty much had to be done. I look forward to the work that’s going to go in putting a package together, at least assessment-wise, for the Fort Simpson library.

Just in terms of looking forward, will our government be accessing this fund next fiscal year? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, these projects, from what I understand, are going to carry us over the two-year time frame of this program to get them in the ground and up and running. Thank you.

Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, advanced education and careers, not previously authorized, $460,000. Mr. Yakeleya.

Just to follow up on Mr. Menicoche’s questions, the Member for Nahendeh, in terms of projects and getting a response from the Minister. The specific area they are looking at is post-secondary institutions, so would the government be coming to the committee in terms of

looking at other projects that would be beneficial in the communities in the Northwest Territories? Some communities do not have learning centres, so would this be forthcoming in a year or so?

Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s our understanding that this program is now considered fully subscribed to and there won’t be any further availability for it to access or advance projects under this time-specific pot of money. Thank you.

Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, advanced education and careers, not previously authorized, $460,000.

Agreed. Total department, not previously authorized, $460,000.

Agreed. Moving on to page 7, Environment and Natural Resources, capital investment expenditures, forest management, not previously authorized, $85,000.

Agreed. Total department, not previously authorized, 85,000.

Does committee agree that Supplementary Appropriation No. 3 (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2009-2010 is concluded?

Mr. Beaulieu.