It would be a conversation with myself. I can't really see any particular advantage to that. I mean, it would still be reporting to a Minister of Cabinet. Of course it was previously in ITI, and I think there were some concerns about that because of the promotional aspect of ITI; now it's in Justice. That would seem to me reasonable. I wouldn't see much difference in it being in Lands. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. It's just a very odd fit that OROGO comes under the Social Development Committee. In any event, maybe the Minister can just refresh my memory about the independence of OROGO when it comes to them developing their own budget. Were they asked to meet certain fiscal reduction targets that Cabinet had set? What sort of financial independence does this organization really have? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.
I really don't -- I don't think there were any significant changes in the budget that were in any way requested by Cabinet because we do see them as independent. I'm not certain how the process works as to when they are submitting their need for funds. Certainly there was no attempt to cut them back.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Thank you for that very helpful answer. Can the Minister get back to me in writing then with some kind of response about what the financial independence is of OROGO? Do they submit a budget to a Minister or to Cabinet, and who approves it? Can the Minister get back to the Regular MLAs with a written response? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.
Of course the funds allocated to them have to be approved here. I understand they submit their own budget. Perhaps Mr. Goldney would like to expand on that a bit. I am not absolutely sure of the process.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.
I am not Mr. Goldney.
My apologies. I will use my ear piece from now on. Mr. Goldney.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and yes, OROGO, just like any other division, does have influence on its budgets and as responsible managers will identify their needs and pressures, and we do see those reflected in the budgets that they put forward, but they are tested in the same way any other division or departments would be to make sure that what is being put forward is reasonable and appropriate. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Goldney. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. That is helpful, but I guess I want to know at the end of the day who decides what goes into the mains. Presumably it is the Finance Minister, or FMB, and is the OROGO budget then submitted to FMB for approval to go into the mains or is it completely independent, they get to submit whatever budget they want? Who makes the final decision on the OROGO -- ultimately it comes here, but before who decides what is going to go into the mains for OROGO? Is that an FMB decision? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.
It is still a FMB decision, so it would come to FMB. Of course, ultimately it has to be approved here.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. So you know this is very murky again. So what kind of oversight or accountability then is there to the Minister of Justice when it comes to the OROGO budget? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.
Well, I suppose, like any other department, there is some financial oversight, but I do not want to give anybody the idea that they are not independent in their operations, because that is the whole point. I mean I do not know how it is done in other jurisdictions, but I can assure the Members that OROGO is properly funded and they are independent. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, earlier I had asked if the Minister could just maybe put some of this in writing so we can get some clarity around how the budget for OROGO is put together, who reviews it and approves it at the end of the day, whether it is the Minister of Justice. I have heard it might be the Minister of Justice, it might be FMB. If he wants to take this away and come back in writing, I think that would be more helpful. Can I get a commitment from him to do that? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.
Yes, I would be prepared to do that. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly, anything further?
Thanks. Yes, I appreciate the Minister making that commitment and I look forward to the information. Thanks.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. I see nothing further on this section. I will call the activity, page 271, Justice, office of the regulator of oil and gas operations, operations expenditure summary, $1,869,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Moving on. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Chair rise and report progress.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debateable. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
I want to thank the witnesses for appearing here so late. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. I want to thank the pages for sticking with us until well after they signed on for.
---Applause
I want to thank our audience, as well. I will now rise and report progress.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 261-18(2): Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2017-2018 and would like to report progress with three motions adopted. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Do we have a seconder? Member for Deh Cho.
---Carried
Orders of the day for Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Commissioner’s Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act
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Bill 13, Marriage Act
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Committee Report 6-18(2), Report on the Review of Bill 7: An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act
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Tabled Document 261-18(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates, 2017-2018
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Good job.
---Applause
Masi, Madam Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
