Bob McLeod

I think we understand that and I think it must be working because the largest part of our workforce is female, and I think our deputy minister cadre is about 50 percent male and female. So I think this helps promote gender equity in all the things we do. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left I have Penny Ballantyne, the deputy minister of Executive and secretary to Cabinet. To my right I have Lisa Turner, director of Finance with the Department of Executive. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. We’ll do that and as we flush out our thinking in more detail, we’ll also make sure that the public is more aware of it. Thank you.

We’ve been preoccupied with devolution and some other priorities, but we will develop a human resource plan. With regard to whether there was a report developed in response to the Auditor General, through you I will ask Mrs. Ballantyne to respond.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That’s correct and this position gives a focus to not only women’s issues, but also to promote advances in gender equity. Thank you.

I am pleased to be here today to present the Department of Executive’s 2013-2014 Main Estimates.

In 2013-2014, the Department of Executive has identified a total operations budget of $20.464 million. There is a net decrease of approximately 10.5 percent from the 2012-2013 Main Estimates. As noted, this decrease is primarily associated with the sunset of devolution negotiations funding. Once a final Devolution Agreement is signed, the level of implementation activity and the required funding for 2013-2014 will increase significantly from the $6.071 million currently projected but will be offset...

I guess the other way forward we see it is with devolution and with greater use of northern tools to make advances in different land issues. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

That’s correct.

We will endeavour to do that. Also, our fiscal strategy would allow us a little more flexibility in future years as well. We think this is a very important area, so we’ll take the Member’s counsel and do whatever we can to try to increase this amount. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

I’ve already indicated that the public will have unprecedented opportunities to have public engagement on this deal. I personally don’t believe in running government by referendum or by plebiscite. I would not support that.