Kevin O'Reilly

Merci, Monsieur le President. It seems to happen more often lately by this Cabinet that Regular MLAs learn about events and meetings through the media rather than directly from our colleagues across the floor. Scooped by Cabin Radio again, the Minister of Infrastructure seems to have been summoned by the United States Embassy for a meeting that was to have taken place on May the 4th, 2023. As Regular MLAs, we received nothing, either before or after this meeting. The Cabin Radio story was rather sketchy about the purpose of this meeting. It appears that there was some sort of discussion or...

Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress.

Yeah, okay, thanks. That's helpful for the Minister to say that. But would it be possible in future supplementary appropriations to actually have some sort of an appendix or, you know I see even with this one, there's a schedule. Would it be possible to have a schedule that sort of shows the compliance with the fiscal responsibility policy for each of the sups going forward just so that the public can have some assurance as well, and us as Regular MLAs, that we're remaining in compliance with it and following it? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Okay, that's all good. Just in case anybody wonders, I do support this expenditure. I believe in economic diversification. As I've said, I love fish. I just hope that the price doesn't go up so much that I can't afford it. But I do support this. And I think it's good that we ask questions and maybe other Members may have some questions here as well. But I do support this funding. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, and I appreciate the Minister's commitment to have that conversation. So I just want to confirm there's no money in this sup for the fire suppression and relief work that's going on for Hay River and K'atlodeeche, is that the case? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, is anyone else putting money into the fish plant, the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, the federal government, anyone else? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Okay, thanks. And so the supplementary reserve two years ago was $65 million, and I'm just wondering if someone can tell me why it was reduced to $35 million in this year's budget. Thank you.

Yeah, no, thanks for those comments. But I just am mindful of it cost us $1.2 or $1.1 million to close it and maybe to help keep it open, it's significantly less than that by hiring some more staff. So I think this one's kind of a nobrainer. And yeah, I guess we got to try to prevent this from happening again. And if means spending some more money and actually saving money in the long run, I think we need to do that. And that's all I've got. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. I'd like to find out what impact the supplementary spending will have on the supplementary reserve for operations. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Okay, thanks. And when we had the period, I think it was last year where the obstetrics unit was closed, has anyone actually calculated how much that cost us in terms of medical travel and perhaps associated costs? Thanks, Madam Chair.