Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 246-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2014-2015, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 246-17(5) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The motion is on the floor and the motion is being distributed. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Committee, we will move on to Tabled Document 247-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016. I’ll go to the Minister responsible. Minister Miltenberger, do you have opening comments?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016. This document provides for an increase of $65.8 million to the capital budget. The most significant items in this supplementary estimates are:
$61 million in capital carry-overs for the completion of infrastructure projects. This represents a carry-over of 20 percent of the previous year’s capital plan, which is the lowest in the past 10 years. These costs are offset by an equivalent lapse of infrastructure funding in the 2014-15 fiscal year; and
$1.6 million associated with the revised acquisition schedule for the new air tractor fleet.
I am prepared to review the details of the supplementary estimates document. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Minister Miltenberger, I’m assuming you still have the same witnesses. Committee, we’re reviewing Tabled Document 247-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016. General comments. Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don’t really have specific questions, so I will keep my comments to general remarks here. I really would just like to acknowledge that the great majority, probably 95 percent is carry-over from largely infrastructure projects, and it is indeed a great amount, $67 million. But on the other hand, it’s down in percentages in what our carry-over has been for the last several years. It’s been up to 30 to 35 percent and this year it’s down to 20 percent, and I’d like to acknowledge that we did a good job in the previous year at completing our infrastructure projects, or at least advancing to a greater degree than normal. I know that’s a result of some focus on that area, and I’d like to acknowledge that progress.
I’ll leave my comments at that, and I look forward to any further comments from my colleagues. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. General comments. Ms. Bisaro.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I just have a few comments, as well, and I feel the same as Mr. Bromley. Although, from what I understand, the amount of carry-over this year in terms of dollars is larger than what we carried over last year. The percentage of our total capital budget has gone way down, by about 10 to 15 percent, I believe. So, I think that is an indication that we are being a little bit more realistic in what work we can do, and I think the departments are getting out ahead of the game, so to speak, and making sure that the projects that they get capital money for are, as much as possible, being done. I just urge the government to keep that up.
I think the less money we have in carry-overs, the better. There are always extenuating circumstances, so they’ll always have carry-over. But this year I think has been a good year.
I have a couple of concerns with some of the carry-overs, but I’ll leave that until we get to detail. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d again like to welcome the department here today as we review these supplementary appropriations. In a general sense, the concern I have is about the timing of these appropriations. To put it into context, the fact that Members here had very little time to review the numbers, to do the analysis, to read the number of briefing notes that were accompanying each line of change, even though it’s a carry-over or a lapse or an offset. Some of these documents do require some time to filter through and to balance off main estimates and even to look at past historical performance by the various departments.
My opening comment is: Is there any way that we can make this system a little bit more efficient so that we can get this information in the hands of the Members at a minimum two weeks before they hit the floor of the House? In this case, this information is within days.
I’m just asking whether or not the process or policy or both can be earmarked for future Assemblies to find more efficiencies. Again, it goes back to some of my earlier questions about financial management in my Member’s statement, getting a D-plus because of our financial reporting. This is a prime example of where the reporting of appropriations getting in the hands of Members was a bit tardy. So, really a general question, is there an opportunity for improvement, and can we get some degree of assurances that future governments, future Assemblies will at least get this information two weeks before we’re able to talk about this in the House? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister Miltenberger.
In this particular cycle, the session that we’re currently in is about a week or so earlier than normal and it squeezed us for time because of year-end and such. We agree with the Member that we would like to make sure that on a go-forward basis we hit the timelines that Members are given and have enough opportunity to thoroughly review the information so we can have a fulsome discussion. We’ll make sure that we work with the Legislature and committees on our planning on a go-forward basis when we look at dates. Normally when we look at dates of session, these types of documents don’t sort of figure into the mix about where they are in the cycle and what that will do to squeeze in the time requirements and ability to have enough time to further review things. So, the Member raises a good point and we’ll, on a go-forward basis, flag this to be considered as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Dolynny.
I do appreciate the Minister’s reply and explanation, and we’ll take it for what it is and hopefully we can improve upon. No further general comments, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Committee, we’re on general comments on Tabled Document 247-17(5). General comments. Is committee agreed we’ll go to detail?
Agreed.
Okay, we’ll go to page 5, Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016, Department of Education, operations expenditures, education and culture, not previously authorized, $115,000.
Agreed.
Total department, not previously authorized, $115,000.
Agreed.
Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, administrative support services, not previously authorized, $524,000.
Agreed.
Total department, not previously authorized, $524,000.
Agreed.
Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, operations expenditures, community operations, not previously authorized, $1.760 million.
Agreed.
Total department, not previously authorized, $1.760 million.
Agreed.
Department of Public Works and Services, operations expenditures, asset management, not previously authorized, $480,000.
Agreed.
Total department, not previously authorized, $480,000.
Agreed.
Legislative Assembly, capital investment expenditures, Office of the Clerk, not previously authorized, $203,000.
Agreed.
Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Maybe just a point of clarity here. This Legislative Assembly amount, I believe these were funds that were put in place from investment funds that are now in the hands of government to control for very specific enhancements and improvements to the facility of the Legislative Assembly. Aside from what we are seeing here as a new phone system, which I believe is a separate entity, the enhancement to the Water’s Edge Park of $147,000 and improvements to increase accessibility of $56,000, the $147,000 and the $56,000, is that just the lapsed money from this fund? Will that include the total amount that was put aside from the Building Fund organizers to the structures and enhancements that were promised? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister Miltenberger.
That’s correct, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Dolynny.
No further questions, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Office of the Clerk, not previously authorized, $203,000.
Agreed.
Total department, not previously authorized, $203,000.
Agreed.
Department of Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, education and culture, not previously authorized, $1.870 million.
Agreed.
Labour development and standards, not previously authorized, $448,000.
Agreed.
