Michael Miltenberger

Thank you. I understand he has engaged in this type of review before. I can’t tell the Member exactly where, but that’s one of the reasons he was asked to do this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will refer the question to Minister Michael McLeod.

Those budget numbers are contained and we stay within the 3 percent cap that we set overall. Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I will commit to update and I will do that through the Social Programs committee, and I am happy to have any discussion with the Member that he thinks is necessary. But I will look at the results of the meeting and I will share that information with the Social Programs committee. As well, I’d be happy to have any kind of further discussion that the Member may require. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll ask Minister Michael McLeod if he can provide that detail.

This is a critical issue and I share the Member’s concern and the need to keep everybody fully apprised. We will do that. We’ll ensure that before this Legislature is dissolved in August that we have an update provided to the Regular Members through the Social Programs committee. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Margaret Melhorn, deputy minister of Finance; Sandy Kalgutkar, deputy secretary to the Financial Management Board. Thank you.

If the Member has specific concerns in the North about how we provide those services and if he’s suggesting, for example, that we change the specifications and require jets versus any kind of prop fixed-wing plane, that’s a discussion we have to look at. Everything has a cost, as well. We’re trying to manage our expenditures in this area and this is an area where the costs are constantly increasing, so we’d have to be very careful and clear. If the Member has some specifics that he thinks are worth review, I’d be happy to have that discussion with him. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll refer that question to Minister Michael McLeod. Thank you.