Michael Miltenberger

No, the existing commercial Power Support Program is not very well subscribed to, given its structure and complexity. It’s considered too onerous. We haven’t added that money to be used, nor have we changed that program. So the money is reflected here just because it was initially targeted for some support to the commercial subsidy.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We anticipate that with the institution of the levy, that there’s going to be a significant drop-off in the use of plastic bags, but any funds that are collected will go into the Environment Fund with ENR and will be put towards other good work that needs to be done.

I appreciate the Member’s comment as it pertains to sunsets or potential sunsets and any action or response from the federal government in terms of continuing on some of the health programs. We’re going to be, of course, monitoring that. We’re not going to know that until the federal budget comes out in early March. We’re already doing some initial planning, as the Members are aware, to try to accommodate the worst-case scenario, which would be that the sunset holds and there is no further funding. However, we will keep the Members apprised as often as we have to going forward with the various...

The intention is to have a consultation and feedback period until April 30th. The intention, as I indicated in the budget address, assuming that there will be constructive feedback and consensus of this Legislature, that we’d have a bill before this House for their consideration and passage in the life of this Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Margaret Melhorn, deputy minister of Finance; and Mr. Jamie Koe, acting director of policy and planning. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the Department of Finance’s main estimates for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

The department’s 2010-11 Main Estimates propose O and M expenditures of $76.528 million. This represents an increase of $1.658 million or 2 percent from the 2009-10 Main Estimates.

In October 2009 the Department of Finance released its Strategic Action Plan 2009-2012, which provides multiyear direction for the department. The plan includes strategic initiatives flowing from two overarching strategic priorities, these being fiscal sustainability and modern...

When we contemplated the commercial subsidy, the structure of the commercial subsidy hadn’t been determined either. We had discussions about what would that money best be put towards. Would it be best put towards incentives to encourage stores to be more energy efficient as opposed to just a subsidy? I agree with the Member that subsidies on their own, as we’ve seen with the Territorial Power Support Subsidy, for example, it grows and I think the Member and I are interested in doing the same thing. The final determination of what these funds will be targeted for will be determined, I would...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Supplementary Appropriation (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 4, 2009-2010.

Mr. Chairman, I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, we would have to, of course, point to the gas tax money and infrastructure money that’s flowed to communities; New Deal money. They have the capacity to plan their own projects. They know that there’s an availability to come to government. They also have the ability now, as far as I recollect, to, in fact, borrow money. So they would have to look at that. If they need extraordinary financing they would have to talk to organizations. MACA would be there to provide advice. So that potential is there already. Thank you.