Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank the Member for his comments. This budget-making is an issue and it’s a process of making choices, of looking at a long list of demands with a finite amount of resources, and we’ve done that again this year. We’ve been on this budget now for about six months collectively, and we’ve tried to capture as much as we can with the funds that are available, and we’re here to have the discussion now about the pieces, the final pieces maybe that need work or that possibly need adjusting.
I appreciate the Member’s comments about the support for the projects. The liquid natural gas in Inuvik, there is work being done and we are hoping to be able to show some success here in the next number of weeks if all pans out, which we’d be coming to the committee with as we do the work, and work that has potential not only for Inuvik, once we get it up and running, but if in fact it proves out it will be a benefit to other thermal communities as well. So we’re hard at work on that one.
We will look forward to the discussion once again on things like the midwifery and all the other program areas where there are concerns being raised, keeping in mind the agreements we have to manage our fiscal realities, so that next year we’ll start with an additional $50 million into capital. When we are successful with devolution, we’ll also be reworking as we meet with the Members to discuss the impact that will have on our operations as well. But in the meantime, this budget is based on the money we have on the table and I look
forward to the discussion with Members as we carry on here over the next five weeks. Thank you.