Thanks to the Minister, but I already heard you say that the other day. My question is: If we don’t get money from the feds, will you find money from within our own budget to try to do some dredging? Thank you.
That’s not in our plans. It is a federal responsibility and it’s unlikely that we will take money from our responsibilities and then expend it where the federal government has responsibility.
Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. Committee, we are on page 469. Transportation, marine, operations expenditure summary, $7.418 million.
Agreed.
Page 470, Transportation, marine, active positions, information item. Questions?
Agreed.
Page 473, road licensing and safety, operations expenditure summary, $5.840 million.
Agreed.
Page 474, road licensing and safety, active positions. Questions?
Agreed.
Road licensing and safety, information item, active positions. Questions?
Agreed.
Page 475, work performed on behalf of others. Questions?
Agreed.
Page 476, work performed on behalf of others. Questions?
Agreed.
If committee agrees, we will turn to page 449, Department of Transportation, $119.462 million.
Agreed.
Committee, at this opportunity I would like to thank Mr. Enge for his long-time service. I think this will be the last time he will be before us in the House. Thank you very much. Good luck in your retirement.
---Applause
Does committee agree we have concluded the Department of Transportation?
Agreed.
Thank you, Minister. Thank you, witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses out of the Chamber.
Thank you, committee. We will continue review of Tabled Document 188-17(5) with the Department of Executive. Agreed?
Agreed.
Minister of Executive, Premier McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2015-2016 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive of $11.335 million. Overall, the department’s estimates propose an increase of $157,000, or 1 percent, over the 2014-2015 Main Estimates. Within its proposed appropriation, the department will spend $305,000 in forced growth for collective bargaining increases and projects $154,000 in expenditure reductions.
Our estimates continue to support the objectives of limiting expenditure growth in order to sustain the long-term sustainability of the fiscal framework.
A key highlight of the department’s 2015-2016 Main Estimates is the proposal to establish two new single window service centres in the communities of Trout Lake and Wekweeti. This will increase the number of government service offices in small communities from 18 to 20.
As Members know, our home-grown Single Window Service Centre model recently received the national Institute of Public Administration of Canada Award for Innovative Management. Our government service officers were recognized for the services they provide directly to residents in their communities, including visiting elders and disabled residents in their homes and providing services in their Aboriginal language.
These positions provide much needed local employment and make it easier for residents of small communities to access Government of the Northwest Territories and Government of Canada programs and services.
Funding for the two additional part-time government service officers positions will be established through a re-profiling of a vacant full-time Headquarters position.
In keeping with modern government communications, we are also proposing to separate the functions of Cabinet and corporate communications.
Corporate communications will have the responsibility for delivering the Government of the Northwest Territories corporate communications program, coordinating government-wide communications and ensuring that our communications policies and practices are up to date.
Cabinet communications will primarily support the communication needs of the Premier and Cabinet Ministers.
To better align departmental mandates with program responsibilities, the department is proposing the transfer of the Government of the Northwest Territories annual contribution to the national Inspire Awards – formerly the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards – to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations.
We are also proposing the transfer of the NGO Stabilization Fund to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, to allow for better integration of support for community-based voluntary organizations. That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Premier McLeod. Premier McLeod, do you have witnesses to bring into the House?
Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.
Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.
Premier McLeod, would you please introduce your witnesses for the record.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left I have Penny Ballantyne, secretary to Cabinet, deputy minister of Executive. To my right I have Lisa Turner, director of finance and administration. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Premier McLeod. Committee, I will open the floor to general comments. General comments on the Department of Executive.
Detail.
Detail? Committee is agreed to go detail. We’ll skip page 127. Page 128, Executive, revenue summary. Questions? Agreed?
Agreed.
Page 129, Executive, active position summary. Questions?
Agreed.
Page 131, Cabinet support, operations expenditure summary, $1.743 million. Agreed?
Agreed.
Page 132, Cabinet support, active positions. Questions?
Agreed.
Page 135, directorate, operations expenditure summary, $6.121 million.
Agreed.
Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That was page 135. Am I correct? I just wondered, and I’m sure there’s an explanation probably associated with devolution, but the big jump in the current fiscal year from about $6 million to about $17 million, a $10 million jump, if I can get an explanation for that.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Premier McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is correct. That was the leftover federal money for implementation.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Next on my list I have Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a question here. As the Minister said in his opening remarks, we are separating the functions of Cabinet and corporate communications. I would presume that by setting up two separate communication shops, so to speak, that there is going to be some expense incurred. I realize that it’s over two activities. It’s in the directorate and I think it’s under Cabinet support as well. How are we funding the establishment of these two separate Cabinet and corporate communications functions?
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Premier McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are funding it through internal reallocations. There is an increase cost of $5,000 related to French language communications and services.
