David Krutko

Mr. Chairman, in regards to the four PYs that you mentioned where the increase of $500,000 comes, could you tell me exactly where those four positions are?

Mr. Chairman, could they elaborate on exactly what type of special services they are going to provide by way of those funds?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Similar to my other colleagues in the House today, I think we have to realize that our economies are not the same with larger centres and regional centres, more importantly, looking at the social and economic situation we find ourselves especially in a lot of our rural communities where unemployment is surpassing 40 percent and almost 45 percent in some cases. But, Mr. Speaker, this government has to realistically look at its preferential policies, procedures and do whatever we can to stimulate our local economies such as the contracts for housing or government service...

I had assumed it was one of the assets that we serviced, so I assumed it was part of the $386 million line item. It is an asset that the Housing Corporation owns. I assumed that if it was listed as an asset, that we should know the book value of it and the depreciated value of it. Do we have that type of assessment?

In light of the water and sewer services, with regard to federal regulations and the possibility of having to process grey water, have we taken into consideration the cost of that obligation or requirement that communities will have to take on if that legislation goes forward?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to ask the Minister some questions in regard to the area of compensation benefits. I notice there’s been an increase of about $500,000, but if you look at the area of grants and contributions, there’s been a decrease of about almost $6.5 million. I’m just wondering why there’s no real correlation between delivery of the programs and services and the decline in grants and contributions. I’d like to know what the declines are, and more importantly what is the increase in regard to compensation benefits. Thank you.

Just another major increase. I noticed that there is some $400,000 increase in the other expenses. Could you break down the other expenses and the $400,000? What is that for?

I just have a question to the Minister or one of the staff in regard to writing off bad debts. We have debts we carried on our books in regard to people who have passed on. Basically, if you’re a couple, you have someone’s debt that basically will fall over to you. Is there anything that the government has done to dispose of bad debts in the local housing authority where we know that the person is deceased or we know that because of ailment and whatnot, there’s no way these people will ever be able to pay that off. Is there some sort of a disposal of debts act that we can look at to deal with...

Thanks for the clarification. In regard to another issue I had on contributions for water and sewer service funding, for communities like those where they have mixed services with both water delivery and utilidor services, a combination of services, where the costs may be higher for the total operational costs of water and sewer services, is that formula calculated in the way that you can accommodate those communities with mixed services of both water delivery and utilidor systems in place?

Maybe I can ask the Minister if he can check in regard to the negotiating contracting guidelines that clearly stipulates that there has to be annual reporting on those contracts on each additional year in regard to the type of employment, the number of northern hires, training, and also ensuring that the commitments made in those contracts, the negotiated contracts, are fulfilled. I’d just like to ask the Minister if he can check in his department under the guidelines to ensure that the guidelines are being followed. Thank you.