Wendy Bisaro

Mr. Chair, thanks to the Minister. No, I don’t need that. We have that information. I just wanted to know that it’s basically being used for the same programs this year as it was for last year.

I’d like to go back to… I started to talk about heritage and the requests from the various heritage organizations to the Minister. I didn’t really understand in the budget where cultural contributions show up. If I could get that clarified, that would be helpful. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wanted to ask a question with regard to the numbers on this page. We see funded positions from ‘12-13 and ‘13-14 go down 23 positions. My first question would be do we have a corresponding reduction in student enrolments. Thank you.

Just to comment, I appreciate that the Minister understands where I’m coming from. But if he’s looking for sort of what the groups are looking for, I would reference him to the letter which came on the Mine Heritage Society letterhead, signed by seven or nine, I think, different heritage groups within the NWT. There were a couple of requests in there which, if he’s looking for inspiration, could provide some. I’m not looking for further information than what’s here. That’s all.

Thank you. Yes, I see that we went from… If I look at the revised mains to the main estimates, there is not very much of a difference there. Basically, from 2012-13 to 2013-14 we have a difference of $1.4 million minus $1.25 million, $0.15 million, so really the new money in 2013-14 for early childhood is minimal. Am I correct in that? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. It’s one thing to monitor the expenditures but I would hope that we’re also looking at providing cost of living increases in some of the amounts of dollars that we give out to our income support clients. Certainly, their expenses go up and everybody’s are always going up. Does this figure in the budget include an adjustment for cost of living increases? Thank you.

Okay. I guess I would suggest then, does that line really need to be there, because it’s very confusing. Thank you. That’s all.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to follow up for my first questions on Mr. Bromley’s questions with regard to the funding for Early Childhood Development.

I noted in the Minister’s opening remarks he stated, in 2013-14 the department plans to spend $7.7 million, about $1.4 million more than budgeted in the 2012-13 Main Estimates. I thought about that. The main estimates were amended, I believe, when committee added $1.25 million to the main estimates. I would like clarification. If we have $1.4 million more than the 2012-13 Main Estimates in this budget, the 2013-14 budget, how much of that $1.4...

That’s good to hear. The Auditor General, in my experience, always does a grand job of providing excellent recommendations.

As the department underwent this review with the Auditor General’s office, I know that people usually discover things as they have somebody who’s poring over their books and their programs and so on. So does the Minister have anything at this point where he can say that, yes, there were some areas where they already know that there are deficiencies and that they will be looking at trying to correct?

Following up with that answer, then, are there things in the other category which couldn’t also be posted, for instance, under materials and supplies? I would think that’s where furnishings would go. If it’s TSC chargebacks, then one would think they would go there. That’s actually another question. How come there’s no chargebacks for TSC from the department? I would just ask that the department eliminate other in the next year’s budget.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would just like to confirm that committee would like to consider the tabled document before us, Department of Education and Transportation, as well, if we get that far. Thank you.