Floyd Roland

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I would like to thank the member for raising questions around this issue again so that I could provide committee with information as to the actual process and to clear the air that, in fact, estimates were done but they were not used. As a result of the questions that came out from members of concerns raised and some very strong suggestions that something should be done, we have gone back and requested more information and I would be willing to provide committee members with the responses that we received from the Department of Health and Social Services. I...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the Yellowknife office space for medical staff support, that’s to do with the Frame Lake Medical Clinic expansion to make room for more doctors that have been hired here in the capital. So it’s to make room for them.

The one for Inuvik is not with the existing hospital. Right now, those services are held outside in a different facility and they are doing renovations to fit in the 17 positions that have been there, but they’ve used other office space that they are now trying to upgrade to match the needs of the work being done. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As a result of this we did go back and look at our operations from the Public Works side and reviewed the practices that were being used, looked at other buildings in the territory that were constructed at the similar time, that had similar design and looked at, again, the operations that we did of O and M or maintenance. Those that we’ve felt that we had to have a closer look at, there was further inspection just to make sure that we did not find ourselves in that area, and maintenance procedures were looked at. In those places where we felt that there may be a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of civic leave has come up with respect the overall policy, and I have done a review and discussed with my Cabinet colleagues the potential issues and avenues that we had. It was felt that we leave it at the existing stage. Now it becomes an issue more of making sure that the implementation is the same across the board. So we have looked at it and feel that we are fairly generous. We have to be careful here, because it can go either way with the review, either tightening it up and making it very rigid or making it too loose and have a hard...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this budget does allow for about $250,000 for the removal of the vertical tank and the access vaults and a portion of the three resupply lines, and then $25,000 provided for the remediation of some of the soils in that area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2003-2004, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m sorry, Mr. Chairman; if I can have the member repeat his question.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I do.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All I can say again is we will be working to improve how our estimates are formed around the consumption. The growth, as stated by Ms. Lee, has been around the consumption of heating fuel, as well as power. Yes, in fact, almost $1 million has been added to the budget for Health and Social Services to provide for the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What we have provided here is our best estimate of what we could be on the hook for and our share of what the total amount is. We’re splitting this with Nunavut, based on the agreement that was reached when Nunavut was created on the division of assets and liabilities. So this $9.5 million figure is our best estimate. Thank you.