Debates of March 30, 2004 (day 11)

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I won’t use up the committee’s time anymore in procedural matters. Thank you.

Thank you. Any further comments? Does the committee want to go with the detail?

Agreed.

Page 5, Legislative Assembly, operations expenditures, office of the Clerk, special warrants, $155,000.

Agreed.

Not previously authorized, $24,000.

Agreed.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, special warrants, $172,000.

Agreed.

Total department, special warrants, $327,000.

Agreed.

Not previously authorized, $24,000.

Agreed.

Page 6, Executive, operations expenditures, executive offices, Commissioner’s office, not previously authorized, $10,000.

Agreed.

Cabinet Secretariat, special warrant, $280,000. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could I get information as to what this lawsuit is about, and how much money has gone into this lawsuit so far, and how much is expected to go into it? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this situation started back in January 2000. The Federation Franco TeNOise filed a lawsuit in the federal court claiming that the GNWT, the Legislative Assembly and the Official Languages Commissioner failed and continue to fail delivery of services in French at a level adequate to meet its alleged obligations under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. So that is what started this process. To date, including what we have estimated for 2004-05, we are looking in the neighbourhood of just over $800,000. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don’t know if I can ask any questions on that because I am assuming that litigation is before the courts.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Member is correct; I would not be able to give any details beyond what I have given now because the matter is still before the courts. Thank you.

Thank you. Detail. Cabinet Secretariat, $280,000. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To this topic of the lawsuit, I appreciate that the matter is before the courts. The Minister indicated that this has been underway for more than four years now. Would he be prepared to advise committee of whether or not we are at all close to a resolution? Can we anticipate that we will be able to see this remedied or resolved in the near future? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am unable to speculate on the matter of what we are looking at in the future in timelines. I am unable to do that at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Braden. Cabinet Secretariat, $280,000.

Agreed.

Total for executive offices, special warrants, $280,000.

Agreed.

Not previously authorized, $10,000.

Agreed.

Page 7, Executive, operations expenditures, Financial Management Board Secretariat, labour relations and compensation services, special warrants, $233,000.

Agreed.

Not previously authorized, $100,000.

Agreed.

Government accounting, not previously authorized, $554,000.

Agreed.

Budgeting and evaluation, not previously authorized, $134,000.

Agreed.

Total for Financial Management Board Secretariat, special warrants, $233,000. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is the special warrant for the negotiations for the UNW positions. These are just from negotiations. Will there be another supp coming if there is a new agreement set for the positions? Will it come to the House again? I want to ask the Minister that, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Member is correct that with the settlement of negotiations and if an agreement is gained from all parties, the final figure would have to come forward through a supp. Right now the existing dollars we have identified are on the existing rates. So we would have to come forward with a supp to identify that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Also, would this show up next year in our business planning?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Minister

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, once that supp is approved because it is an ongoing commitment, it then becomes part of the base of the Department of Health and Social Services. So you would see an adjustment from the 2004-05 mains. There would be revised mains which would incorporate those, and then the estimates for the 2005-06. So it would be wrapped up into the base and forward from there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Yakeleya.