Debates of March 14, 2007 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions will follow the line my Member’s statement drew out, so my questions will be directed to the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, in short, I want to make sure our Crown corporations are giving all the NWT citizens value for money. Mr. Speaker, my question, therefore, is, is there a value to the directors of the Crown corporations and the GNWT shareholders in conducting occasional performance audits on Crown corporations? Can the Minister indicate whether there has been any progress on this file since I raised the issue back in February 2006? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 25-15(6): Performance Audits Of Crown Corporations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the area of accountability is something we take seriously within this government. We have reviewed our administration act, the Financial Administration Act, as well as our Financial Administration Manual, and highlighted a number of areas where there’s a fair bit of accountability that falls into place. Instead of going to each section, I can provide that information to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 25-15(6): Performance Audits Of Crown Corporations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the offer from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, in the letter I tabled last week -- and the Finance Minister does have a copy of this -- Sheila Fraser, our top Auditor General here, talks about the great things value for service that audits do. Would the Minister be willing to take a serious look at this letter and take the Auditor General’s office of Canada up on the service they are willing to provide to ensure we have value for service in our Crown corporations?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 25-15(6): Performance Audits Of Crown Corporations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, each corporation that we’re involved with has an act that establishes and talks about accountability. As I stated, through our acts we have accountability as well. As well, the third-party accountability framework is another piece that we’ve recently added, as a government, when it comes to how corporations are involved and spend money in the Northwest Territories.

As well, through the Auditor General of Canada’s office, when and has in the past, from time to time, been called to come and look at a number of issues within the Government of the Northwest Territories departments and corporations and, in fact, were recently involved in the Housing Corporation. We’re waiting for that report. So they have been involved and we’ll continue to work with them from time to time as called upon. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 25-15(6): Performance Audits Of Crown Corporations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t deny that the Finance Minister was correct on that information. However, I’m talking about a proactive approach that actually gets ahead of the problem before it gets away from us. I’m talking about getting ahead of the problem so we don’t have to work on trying to force and try to reach a compromise to have these big, deep, forensic-style audits. So, Mr. Speaker, the fact is the Auditor General will do this. All we have to do is put it in a line item now that we have the FAA open. Would the Minister reconsider that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 25-15(6): Performance Audits Of Crown Corporations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess, for the record, let’s make it clear that there are no problems to date. Potential problems, I guess the Member is referring to. The Member is correct; we are going through work on the Financial Administration Act and that is an opportunity, as we sit down with Members, that we could look at including something of this nature. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 25-15(6): Performance Audits Of Crown Corporations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I can take the Minister up on his small, but -- I heard it -- olive branch on that as something they can look at, what will we be looking at and how soon will we get some information back from the Minister on the direction that I’ve been trying to draw out? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 25-15(6): Performance Audits Of Crown Corporations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the work on the Financial Administration Act is a very large piece of work and I’m unable to give a timeline commitment on this particular piece. As we bring it forward to committee, members we’ll have to incorporate this. I’m not looking at pulling a piece of this out and doing it that way. We’re doing a full review of the Financial Administration Act, it has been ongoing for some time, and hopefully in the near future we’ll be able to bring something forward to Members of this Assembly. Thank you.