Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the office space the Member is speaking of is one that is worked on between the Legal Services Board, being the client, and Public Works and Services, as the one involved in the issuing of the RFP that went out and trying to see if any of the RFPs that were returned fit the criteria, and, going on that, recommend to the parties involved that that would be the way to go. My understanding of the process on the office space was the RFP was issued. Three responses were received. Two were on time, but did not fit the RFP. One came in but was late. Phone calls...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank the Member for his positive comments about the TSC. In coming together, in bringing this together, it has had its difficulties, but we’ve been working through them and looking at the next phase of bringing the service together to be more efficient as a government. So I don’t have a timeline as of yet. I’ll speak to my departments that are involved in this and look at what timing we can put in place for this discussion. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, the total amount owing to the government was approximately $350,000. The first amount was for $150,000 in 1999 and then in 2001, through the Development Corporation, it was another $100,000 and then a further $100,000 from BCC. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the concern that is being raised. For that office space, a request for proposals went out in late summer. It was issued, and a number of parties put in proposals. What had happened was the space that was required in the RFP was not met, and based on the number of calls that were made trying to secure the location, it was decided at that point that one of the proponents did have a suitable space, but didn’t make the cut-off time for the RFP. It was contacted and discussions were entered into and an agreement was made. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, first of all, when we look at the amount of $411,000, it is a substantial amount and that is why we try to improve on the way we get things done and the third-party accountability framework and how we work with our own staff and that process.

This has not been a growing trend. It fluctuates from one cycle to the next. For example, in 2000-01, the total amount for write-offs was $2.6 million; for 2002-03, it was $134,000; in 2003-04, $162,000. The total amount we are looking at for 2004-05 is in the neighbourhood of $500,000. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The operation concluded, seized to exist, in March of 2002 or approximately that time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we have no information that would bring that into question, if there was political pressure when these things were going forward to make things go away or just deal with it. We feel there are processes in place today that would take that into consideration. If a Minister were to try to put undue pressure on one of the deputies in saying we want to see this one flow through, we have a system in place where the deputies are reporting directly to the Premier. There is a reason for that separation. If I, as a Minister, were to try to put undue pressure on...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the member is accurate in his assumption of the policies as they work now. We do make an accounting of advances on a quarterly basis and encourage that information would get back to the departments before they proceed. In a number of these cases, for some reason, that wasn’t done in the past. As stated by the Minister, there have been a number of changes in the way that we deal with these. That policy is in place about proceeding on to the next year and doing it on a quarterly basis. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I just want to put it on record that the reference Mr. Dent made to the individual who worked on this file no longer being with the government, there was no direct relationship between what occurred on the file and that individual being with our government. Just to be sure on that portion. Now, the third-party accountability framework portion is more the relationship that we would set up with the organizations from a government perspective to an organization receiving money. It’s not the relationship between an employee working in the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the guidelines are clear that there should be a proper accounting for the funds that are distributed, and there should be a reporting back of those. As the departments go forward in looking at how those expenditures are made, and if they were in accordance with the proposals put forward, they would be dealt with in that appropriate manner. I know the issue of concern was raised with committee, and we’ve notified the appropriate department. I believe, in this particular case, Mr. Dent may have information to respond to that particular issue that the...