Mr. Benito: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are paying interest on top of the principal on the first ASAP project, which will provide 18 new schools in Edmonton and Calgary by September 2010. To the Minister of Education: is our government actually saving any money over the 30 years of this agreement?

Mr. Hancock: Well, absolutely, Mr. Speaker. Independent third-party studies by PricewaterhouseCoopers demonstrate that the first phase of our design, build, finance, and maintain K to 9 schools will actually yield a cost savings of $97 million over the traditional build approach. Similar net present value analysis demonstrates that our design build bundle for the four ASAP 2 high schools will save us $40 million. We anticipate similar savings for the other ASAP 2 schools. The bottom line is that we wouldn't proceed with building under a P3 unless it was a better deal for Albertans.

Mr. Benito: To the same minister: given the current economic climate is there any possibility that some of the planned projects under ASAP 2 might be cancelled or deferred?

Mr. Hancock: No, Mr. Speaker. In fact, the current economic climate makes it better for building. The prices are better, the cost savings are better on the various capital projects. We have commit­ted to Albertans that we'll build the 14 new schools in time for the 2012-2013 school year, and we will deliver on that commitment. The contract for the four new high schools has been let, and those are actually starting construction as we speak. With respect to the balance of it the bid process has closed. I can tell you that the results are good. I can't tell you those results because there's a time frame to work out the agreement with the successful contractor.

Mr. Benito: To the Minister of Infrastructure: given that these schools are being built as a P3 project, what assurances can the minister give that they will be completed on time and on budget and, more importantly, that quality will not be sacrificed in order to achieve cost savings?

Mr. Danyluk: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I do want to assure everyone that ASAP 2 is on time and on budget. The schools are 80 per cent complete and will be delivered by June 30. The contract includes a penalty clause for completion date. Quality is this government's number one priority, and this is in the contract as well. The standards, designs ensure high quality and equality across the province, and there's a 30-year warranty that guarantees that quality is maintained and also ensures the use of the best material and innovation practices.