Through you, Mr. Chair, I will ask Lisa Turner to provide that information.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Ms. Turner.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The majority of the budget is related to compensation and benefits for the four positions that are located in that unit with a small O and M budget.
Thank you, Ms. Turner. Any further questions, Mr. Vanthuyne?
Maybe I have to ask again for some clarification and I am respectful that we might not get as clear an answer as we are looking for. It seems to be that in 2014-15 there was no expenditure in this category, nor in 2015-16. There is this amount of $716,000 for office of the priorities and planning. I just wonder again if I can ask if the Minister has found additional information that can explain what that expenditure is. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It was an internal re-allocation from Cabinet support into directorate for the four positions that make up the office of the priorities and planning and associated O and M. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Any further questions, Mr. Vanthuyne?
Thank you; that is appreciated. If we move a little further down, under the line Item of contract services, in 2014-15 we spent about $1.4 million. It seems like the regular expenditure annually in that area of contract services is roughly about $400,000 and change. We have allocated $421,000 for this year. Can we get an explanation as to what are typical contract services for the directorate, and why there is a reduction of nearly a million dollars since 2014-15 actuals? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The largest part is because of the fact that devolution has come and was implemented. The amount of money that was spent in that area was no longer required. The contract services of $421,000 is for the normal activities of the Department of Executive. Through you, Mr. Chair, I will ask the deputy minister to provide that detail through Ms. Turner. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Ms. Turner.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The difference from the 2015-16 main estimates to the revised estimates, including the supplementary appropriation we received for the phase two communications functional review. Then you will see it reduced to the proposed 2016-17 main estimates with the reductions. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Turner. Anything further, Mr. Vanthuyne?
Sorry. Not to belabour this page, Mr. Chair. Another oddity on the page is the 2014-15 actuals under controllable assets, where the amount of $600,000 is, this year, proposed to be $30,000. Can I just get an explanation as to what is controllable assets and why such a reduction? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again it is related to devolution. Once devolution was achieved and implemented, the requirement for controllable assets has declined significantly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Anything further, Mr. Vanthuyne? Further questions to page 125, operations expenditure? Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to follow up on my colleague's question, what is a controllable asset? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. McLeod.
Computers, iPads, cellphones. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Committee, any questions to operations expenditure summary, page 125? Committee is agreed to Executive, directorate, operations expenditure summary $6,859,000?
Agreed.
Thank you. That brings us to page 126, Executive, directorate, grants, contributions and transfers. Information item. Any questions? Mr. Thompson.
Previously the Minister talked about there are three moves from the Executive here, but there are five headquarters. Are there additional positions here besides the four? I am just a little confused. They said three were moved over here. I am just trying to understand it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Sorry, Mr. Thompson. We are on page 126. Any questions to page 126, directorate, grants, contributions, and transfers? I see none. Committee, are we agreed to directorate, grants, contributions and transfers. Information item, grants for $150,000.
Agreed.
Agreed. Thank you. Committee, we are on page 127, Executive, directorate, active positions, information item. Any questions? Mr. Thompson.
I ask that question again. I guess this is the right page for it. I notice in here we have gone from 13 to 18 increase of positions, and they said three were moved from the Executive but that is still two additional more positions. Could you explain this difference? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. McLeod. Thank you, Mr. McLeod, I will turn to Ms. Turner.
Thank you. The additional positions would be three strategic communications advisors with the communications functional review and also the internal transfer of the parties and planning analyst; two of them and one board registrar with the reduction of one Cabinet analyst.
Thank you, Ms. Turner. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you for that clarification. In regards to North Slave and Trout Lake, can the Minister please explain the differences between the North Slave and Trout Lake? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. North Slave is our regional offices in Yellowknife that are outside of headquarters. Trout Lake are the four Trout Lake communities where we have GSOs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. McLeod. Any further questions, Mr. Thompson?
No. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. With my colleague, I just wanted to distinguish right now in terms of positions of the regional allocations, this is an additional four. I want to know, just to be clear, which of those positions are situated either in the Deh Cho or the Nahendeh?
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The positions that we have identified are Nahanni Butte. Fort Providence, Fort Liard. There is one in Trout Lake, but that hasn't been staffed yet. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Maybe I can be corrected in the presentation of the positions. Perhaps we could maybe see a breakdown, a distinction, between Deh Cho and Nahendeh. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We will see if we can change it so that these positions are identified by constituency rather than by region. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Any further questions, Mr. Nadli?
No, thank you.
Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regards to the position for Trout Lake, is that funding still in the budget? Is that position going to be filled this year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. McLeod.
