Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There’s only one identified position with the Public Utilities Board and that is in Hay River.
Thank you, Minister. Anything further, Mr. Yakeleya?
No, thank you.
Committee, page 2-26, information item, Public Utilities Board, active positions. Agreed?
Agreed.
Page 2-29, activity summary, Department of Executive, Cabinet support, operations expenditure summary, $3.054 million. Committee agreed?
Agreed.
Page 2-30, activity summary. Mr. Ramsay.
Thanks, Mr. Chairman. I just had a question under 2-29 again, sorry, if we could return there.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Committee agree we return to page 2-29?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Page 2-29, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m just, again, wondering -- and I believe I’ve asked this question before -- one of the other six budgets, the Women’s Advisory, now I know it plays an important role in what we do here, but, again, I just have trouble understanding why we keep it under this area of the Department of Executive and why it wouldn’t go to the department of let’s say Health and Social Services or let’s say ECE. It certainly doesn’t belong under the Department of Executive. I think if you’re going to give it the support and push that it needs, I think it’s got to be under one of the social envelope departments and not under the Department of Executive. I’m not sure the history of why it ended up here in the first place. I could guess, but I won’t guess right now. Maybe if the Minister could comment if the government’s got any plans to take the Women’s Advisory role out of the Department of Executive and put it where it belongs? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Minister Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess the determination of where it belongs would be one that would be an interesting debate because, for example, just using the NGO area of criteria when that debate came up in this Assembly, it was felt that it best be held in the Executive because of the weight of the level the Executive office could have on that in moving it forward because it covered a number of departments. The Women’s Advisory, as well, covers quite a number of areas that they would be involved with whether it is to do with health services or education and training pieces that they’ve been involved with and flows through our department. We could be looking at, if that was the wish of the Assembly, moving it somewhere else, but I’d also say there would be groups out there who helped push this to today to get it put in where it’s at because of its level. Where it’s at they would probably not want to see it removed or moved to another department, but that’s up for discussion I would say. Thank you.
Thank you, Premier. So, committee, page 2-29, activity summary, Cabinet support, operations expenditure summary, $3.054 million. Agreed?
Agreed.
Thank you. Page 2-30, activity summary, Cabinet support, grants and contributions, grants, $219,000; contributions, $592,000; total grants and contributions, $811,000, agreed?
Agreed.
Page 2-31, information item, Department of Executive, Cabinet support, active positions. Questions?
Agreed.
And finally, page 2-32, information item, Department of Executive, lease commitments - infrastructure. Questions?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We’ll return to page 2-7 for consideration of the department summary. Mr. Yakeleya.
I’m sorry if I’m asleep at the wheel here. I just want to ask one question here to the Minister. In regard to the land use framework, have we... I know it’s somewhere in the Department of Executive in terms of the land use framework and I’m trying to locate some information. Is that going to be forthcoming or do we already have it or have I just misplaced it? It’s an important initiative by the Executive in terms of going forward. I want to ask if the Premier would have some good discussions with us or where can I get some information on that.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Premier Roland, perhaps you could identify where it is in the department.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The department is the lead role in this land use framework being done and I believe we’ve secured time with committee to go over the land use framework and then I’ll be going to regional leaders with that as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Premier Roland, and could you identify where it is in the budget? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is under the executive operations area.
Thank you. Anything further, Mr. Yakeleya?
No, thank you.
Thank you, committee. We’re on page 2-7.
Agreed.
Operations expenditure summary, program summary, Department of Executive, $14.306 million.
Agreed.
Agreed?
Agreed.
Does committee agree that this concludes the department of Executive?
Agreed.
Thank you. Thank you, Minister, and your witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the House.
Thank you, committee. We’ve concluded the Department of Executive. The next on our list, I believe, is the Legislative Assembly.
Agreed.
Committee, I’d like to call on Mr. Delorey for opening comments.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2010-2011 operations budget for the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Chair, the Legislative Assembly is seeking appropriation authority in the amount of $17.24 million.
Mr. Chairman, I want to provide a brief update on some of the initiatives I announced in this House last year. Our Paper Reduction Strategy includes initiatives such as posting tabled documents on the Legislative Assembly website as opposed to distributing paper copies. Posting electronically has allowed us to meet our 75 percent reduction target for tabled documents. The Legislative Assembly has also reduced committee paper usage by 50 percent and House paper usage by 30 percent. Altogether, the Legislative Assembly used 450,000 fewer sheets of paper in 2009 than we did in 2008. That’s a 55 percent reduction in paper used. We are steadily moving toward our overall goal of an 80 percent reduction in Legislative Assembly use of paper.
Mr. Chair, I know that the decision to Drop the Pop and bottled water in the Legislative Assembly last year was challenging for some Members, but I think it has been an effective way for each of us to lead by example and play a small role in promoting good environmental stewardship and healthy personal choices.
Mr. Chairman, today crews began clearing the site at the north end of the Legislative Assembly in preparation for the installation of a wood pellet boiler. This initiative will result in a reduction of over 82,000 litres of diesel fuel usage a year and a cost savings of $37,600 annually. At current fuel prices, the wood pellet boiler will pay for itself in just over nine years.
Mr. Chair, this year's budget includes a $50,000 increase to the grant provided to the NWT Human Rights Commission to provide assistance to unrepresented parties before the Human Rights Adjudication Panel. This assistance is viewed by both the commission and the adjudication panel as an effective way to streamline the adjudication process. In addition to providing assistance to unrepresented parties in a complex and often intimidating process, this new initiative should reduce the time and money required to see a complaint through to conclusion.
Mr. Chair, for the first time in the history of this Assembly, we have employees on our books that do not reside in Yellowknife. As Members know, the Board of Management last year decided to relocate the office of the Languages Commissioner from Yellowknife to Inuvik. I am pleased to report that this budget includes funding for office space and staff in Inuvik for our new Languages Commissioner.
Mr. Chair, our broadcast system continues to evolve. Earlier this year, Assembly staff successfully negotiated an agreement with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to bring all but two of our communities onto our broadcast network. Late last year I, along with the Speaker of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly, appeared before the Canadian Radio and Television Commission to call for the designation of our Assembly proceedings as a “must carry” on direct-to-home or satellite television systems. Our presentation was well received by the commission and we are hopeful for a positive response that will significantly increase our broadcast coverage.
Mr. Chairman, this year’s budget includes funding to continue the important work of the Standing Committee on Social Programs’ review of the Child and Family Services Act. Since the get-go, the Social Programs committee has shown significant determination and drive on this important legislative review. In addition to the many hours already spent on this initiative, the committee will hold extensive public hearings throughout the Northwest Territories in April. I want to congratulate Chairman Beaulieu and his committee, their staff and the staff of the Department of Health and Social Services for their excellent work to date. I particularly want to draw attention to the work of the committee’s research assistant, Ms. Robyn Stewart, who has demonstrated a remarkable ability to absorb the many aspects of this complicated file in a very compressed time frame. I am confident that this review will set the standard for how consensus government can and should function when all parties agree to work together for the good of the people we represent.
Mr. Chairman, the report of the Independent Commission to Review Members’ Compensation and Benefits falls due early in the next fiscal year. As we speak, members of the commission are studying the many complex and important issues before them. I look forward to tabling the commission’s report during our May sitting and proceeding to a thorough and public debate about the recommendations contained therein.
Mr. Chairman, on November 17, 1993, this impressive building was formally dedicated to the wisdom of our elders and the spirit of their children. I know that I speak for all Members when I say that the experience and insight of our elders is among our greatest assets as a Territory. Mr. Chairman, in recognition of this, I have invited elders from across the Northwest Territories to assemble in Yellowknife for the first ever Elders Parliament from May 3 to 7, 2010. This unique initiative, which has already garnered significant interest, will provide our elders with an opportunity to learn more about the workings of our Assembly and express their views on important matters of public policy. I’m so excited about this initiative that I have decided to serve as Speaker of the Elders Parliament myself. After all, I meet the age requirement. I’m not sure whether they will be easier or a more challenging group to keep on track than you are. If all goes well this year, we will, in future years, alternate between a Youth and an Elders Parliament.
Members, by the end of the coming fiscal year, we will have only five months remaining in our term. This year marks the beginning of a two-year ramp-up of our elections office in preparation for the October 2011 General Election. We will be proceeding to recruit a permanent Chief Electoral Officer in the months ahead and hope to be fully staffed by this October. Brace yourselves, Members; it will come faster than you think.
Colleagues, this concludes my opening remarks. As always, I want to thank my colleagues on the Board of Management for their excellent work and dedication to the best interests of this institution. Mr. Chairman, if there are any questions, I will be pleased to respond to them. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would you wish to bring witnesses into the House?
Yes, I would, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort witnesses into the House.
Mr. Speaker, would you like to introduce your witnesses, please.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my left is director of corporate services, Olin Lovely, and to my right is the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Mercer.
