Bob Bromley

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We have before us, committee, three tabled documents: Tabled Documents 7-16(6), 8-16(6) and 9-16(6). What is the wish of committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

I’m certain that nobody here is a stranger to that 30 minute trip into Edmonton from the International Airport. Many of us have probably experienced the fog conditions, the snowstorm conditions, this sort of thing. Can the Minister say whether the report he’s had on this takes into account the impact of those sorts of conditions?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services regarding the Edmonton Municipal Airport closure. I have questions of detail regarding the closure and the routing medevac flights through the International. I have been informed that the original deeding of airport lands to the municipality was made with a caveat that the lands could not be used other than as an airport. Since the issue of the municipality’s discretion to make this change is fundamental to this issue, will the Minister direct staff to confirm whether in fact this was the case? Mahsi.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to say that I think that’s a sound investment following up on this item. A five-year payback sounds very reasonable to me and that’s not even mentioning the gains in greenhouse gas reductions. I’m wondering if the Minister would know what the payback period is for the Elizabeth Mackenzie School wood pellet boiler. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I did want to say that I recognize this is a substantial carry-over, but I recognize also that I think we had a very substantial amount, I think over half a billion dollars, of infrastructure last year that we were taking on and the actual proportion moving forward is relatively modest. Nevertheless, because it’s such a large amount, it is a lot of work that hasn’t got done.

Just homing in on one specific here, I’d like to focus on the Dettah access road reconstruction. I’m happy to see that we’ve been able to carry over and carry forward the dollars for this project...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not debating the act itself. It is about consultation, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not talking about groups, I’m talking about people with real experience. I would just like to say a personal note, Mr. Speaker. I’ve recently become a proud great-uncle for the second time.

---Applause

My nephew and his wife report the following experience: With her first baby and under the care from a midwife, benefits were clear. With the second baby and no care from a midwife, they were in hospital on repeated occasions. My niece reports these hospital visits would not have happened had she been under the same midwifery care as with her first child.

Mr. Speaker...

The Minister says she is serious, but her written reply to my question goes on to say that the now 2011-12 analysis will be brought forward for the 2013-14 year business plans. Review promised this year, now in the coming year, not even in the business plans until the second year after that, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister has almost carried this baby to full term…

---Laughter

...the full term of this Assembly. Why does she think expanded midwifery should go into the incubator for yet another year before we even see it in the business plans?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Budget sessions are always the most demanding and we’ve covered much ground over the past few several weeks. A review of these issues before breaking will serve us well.

We’ve made progress in law. We have set in motion the critical actions in the review of the Child and Family Services Act. There have been important revisions to the Dog Act. There have been modest improvements in our controls over Members’ post-term activities and we’ve started on the Heritage Fund.

The debate on the social ills has dominated this session and with good reason. The issues of family...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak to the principle of this bill. This bill is very late in coming, Mr. Speaker, but it is highly desirable and provides an important opportunity to begin capturing some lasting benefits from the exploitation of our richest resources, an opportunity we have simply not had in the past.

The bill has, however, a key shortcoming, and that includes that it fails to directly connect building the Heritage Fund to the exploitation of our resources as they are exploited and shipped afar. This bill leaves this role to future legislators and that, in my opinion...