My questions are directed to the Minister of Finance. I would like to go back to my Member’s statement in October of 2008 when I said, “We need a committee of GNWT employees, composed of only front-line and middle management staff who represent all departments and agencies, a committee which reports directly to MLAs of the Finance Minister, and the job of this committee would be to provide suggestions to reduce our costs.” I would like to ask the Minister, at this point, is this committee in place, and if not, why not? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, it is not. We have made a commitment to work with all of the other stakeholders through the round table that I have set up and we have indicated that we want to put other issues on the table. I have indicated today, as well, of interest in pursuing the process to take a broad look at the way we do our taxes and, as well, we will work through the departments for feedback and recommendations. But there is no government-wide employee committee that I am aware of. Thank you.
Thanks to the Finance Minister for that clear answer. It is, unfortunately, not the answer that I was hoping that I would hear. I would like to explain to the Minister and perhaps to anyone who is listening, and to you, Mr. Speaker, there are employees who certainly have valuable ideas that would work in the front lines. They experience all kinds of situations where they can see that expenses can be reduced, where waste can be terminated. I would like to ask the Minister if he does not agree with those sentiments. Does he not feel that our front-line staff have the opportunity to provide valuable suggestions to reduce our expenses and keep our costs down?
The Member is asking for my opinion and I would be happy to provide that. There is a valuable role for employees. As we forge ahead with this budget into the rough waters that are there economically, and the darkening skies economically, I will pursue with thinking outside the box -- as has been recommended by Mr. Abernethy -- and we can revisit those issues. There used to be a committee in the days of old and the value of that could be reviewed. So it is not that we don’t think it is valuable, it is just that at this point it has not reached an agenda. Thank you.
Thanks again to the Finance Minister. I struggle with the answer that yes, it is valuable, but no, we are not going there. I would like to remind the Minister that given a very small piece of rope, I think our employees would provide us with a very large gain. So, no, they wouldn’t hang themselves. But I would like to know from the Minister when we might see that our employees might be given the opportunity, even if they form this staff committee by themselves or if they are certainly given licence to go ahead and make suggestions, when might we see a concrete date for that to happen. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of ENR has been supportive in the department of setting up green teams. Over in the office building where they work there is a very dedicated, interested group of people who are currently working on all the opportunities that are available in terms of savings with paper, with copiers, with machines being left on, with recycling. I’m fully supportive of that and I’m sure the other Minister is. Maybe it’s a situation of having departments working with the Members to encourage that type of formation. They brown bag it at lunch. I think sometimes we help cover their lunch. I’ve met with them on a couple of occasions. I think it’s a very valuable resource. It does exist. As keeping with Mr. Bromley’s suggestion of keeping it small, keeping it local, maybe that’s the approach we should be considering. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I commend the Minister of ENR for setting in place this green team and that particular initiative. My request is going beyond that. We need a committee that goes across all departments, that is representing the front line, the front end of our staff. I would like to ask the Minister… Sorry. I’ll go back again. I would like to say to the Minister that, yes, other departments have to follow the lead of ENR, but I think that in addition we need to have a committee that is broadly based across all departments. I would ask him again what date that might be initiated. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I will commit to bringing the issue to the FMB or the Cabinet, whatever’s the most appropriate for the initial discussions. I will commit to report back to the Member before the end of this session. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
