Thank you, Mr. Testart. Can we wait until we are at that section? Would that be acceptable?

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. If I have no further general comments on this, we can begin consideration at page 6. Education, Culture and Employment. Comments or questions? Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is, as I understand it, well, let's start with this: can the Minister explain what this additional appropriation is and what will it accomplish for junior kindergarten? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This money was initially appropriated to go over three years. I am working with and getting feedback from committee. It was decided that we would make this money available to all the schools for their junior kindergarten in one year. ECE is currently working with the divisional occasion authorities in the Department of Infrastructure on an updated schedule to undertake required capital projects in 2018-2019. As far as the individual items of what the Member is referring to, we don't have that detail of information right away, but as soon as they come out with a plan, we will share it with the Members. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the efforts of my Cabinet friends to move this up and try to get the work done within one year. That is something that I raise concerns about and I am really glad to see that they were able to respond positively and try to move this work up. I understand that there might be some capacity issues in terms of getting the work contracted and out the door and following up appropriately and so on. I take it, then, from what the Minister said that they are developing a bit of a plan to try to speed up that work. Any idea when they might be able to share some of the details of that with Regular MLAs on this side?

The reason why I ask that is I understand there are a number of projects and much of the work is to be done in smaller communities, which is good; it will help create jobs there, but also make sure that our new junior kindergarten students have access to safe playgrounds and school facilities and so on. Can the Minister keep us updated on this plan that they're developing to speed up the work? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I will work with my Cabinet colleague from Education and soon as we have a concrete plan as to where the investments are going to be and what it's going to consist of, we'd be glad to share that with committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Just in the eventuality that the work can't all be done this year, it could be carried over into the next year?

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. I will just remind everyone to make sure your light is on before you begin speaking. Minister McLeod.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, that is correct. It can be carried over. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I do sincerely appreciate the efforts of my Cabinet friends to speed up that work. I just want to go on the record, because I don't often do that, thanking them for their hard work on that one. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, committee. Seeing nothing further, I will call this section. 2018-2019 Supplementary Estimate No. 1 (Infrastructure Expenditures), Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, early childhood and schools not previously authorized, $1,255,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. 2018-2019 Supplementary Estimate No. 1, (Infrastructure Expenditures), Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $1,255,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Moving on to page 7. Mr. Testart had comments on this section. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to ask the Minister to respond to my previous comment. Thank you.

Minister, do you remember Mr. Testart's previous comment?

We never forget. Mr. Chair, the reason that it's coming forward, and a negative supp, it was a timing issue. My understanding is the revolving fund wasn't quite set up in time. The capital budget had been approved by FMB, and then so once the revolving fund was set up, it would determine that we would put a negative supp in and have this $400,000 paid out of the revolving fund. Thank you, Mr. Chair.