Jane Groenewegen

We’ve had many years to study this problem and get a plan in place. The fact is that this government has a large capital budget going forward. A document was tabled yesterday in this House showing what the priorities of that capital budget are. I want to know why Hay River is not being treated as a priority.

I can remember at the candidate forum in Hay River reassuring the people that this was in the capital budget. How can we go back and face our community now? They ask why. Why is Hay River not getting the attention it needs?

To the subject of the volume or size of our capital budget, I have a...

So to my question, then, just to be clear: in the letter of award is that clause included in that letter, that that is subject to the approval of this House?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleague Mr. Krutko I stand again in this House today begging. Mr. Krutko is begging for his gravel source; I’m begging for the renovation of our high school.

Anyone who has visited Hay River has seen our famous high school. The Diamond Jenness school was designed by Douglas Cardinal and constructed in 1972. That makes the school 36 years old, older than some Members of this Legislature. That makes it time for major renovations.

Major renovations to the school are very overdue. The renovation project first appeared in the capital plan in 2001. The capital plan...

Just as a matter of process, who would have signed off on the award of this contract?

So we have awarded the contract, but we haven’t signed the contract. You know, this is kind of a fine line here. Does the awarding of the contract in any way legally bind this government to this contract in the absence of the actual appropriation of the money approved in this House?

I’m sorry; I didn’t hear that. It wasn’t very loud. It is subject to the approval of this House. Is that what he said?

Was the amount agreed to in last year’s capital plan and budget for the entire $115 million, or was it for a portion of that?

Okay; I’m going to jump in on this one here. Mr. Miltenberger says we have a very clear price we have agreed to. Is the very clear price we have agreed to the price that was authorized? Was it the dollar amount that was authorized that was approved by this House that somebody — I don’t know; Mr. Roland? — just referred to and said it was approved in last year’s budget? Is it the same amount?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today we would like to begin work on the Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–10 with the Minister’s opening comments, general comments and then as far into the departments, in order, as we can get within our time limit.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that we report progress. Our Members are little down on this side, so I will ask to report progress, please.