Thank you, Mr. Testart. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Thank you, Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that, in future, any GNWT department being audited provide the Standing Committee on Government Operations with a copy of its actions or implementation plan at the earliest possible opportunity and no later than three business days prior to the public review on the Auditor General's report, consistent with the Process Convention on Communications Between Cabinet Ministers, Standing Committees, and Regular Members. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion, Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we were reviewing this business plan in particular, the government was very late in getting their action plan to us. In fact, probably about three hours was actually afforded in business days. We want to avoid that problem in the future. We certainly do appreciate the hard work that the department did in working with the Auditor General's office in developing their action plan. For us to play our part in this process, as the Standing Committee on Government Operations and the public accounts committee for this Assembly, we need to be given that information in a timely manner so we can properly assess it. It doesn't do the public any favours if we are rushed in that analysis and assessment.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried. Thank you, committee.
---Carried
Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that any GNWT department selected in the future for an audit provide the Standing Committee on Government Operations with a copy of its action or implementation plan in draft format; and further that this document not be finalized until the department has had an opportunity to consider the recommendations made as a result of the standing committee's review. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion, Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Further to my previous comments on the last motion, when the standing committee was given the action plan for this audit, it was in final form, and committee felt that we were not given an opportunity to provide feedback to those concerns. Again, our work on these audits is an important part of that process. We would ask that, in the future, our comments and feedback be considered before any final plans are implemented.
I should add, as well, it is not the standing committee's intention with this motion to be involved in every step of the audit process, merely the final step before we have our public reviews of the action plan and associated documents. We would like those plans to come before us in draft form.
Certainly, the standing committee is not interested in being involved with the audit when it starts on the official's level, and certainly our committee has no place in that process. This is specifically about the reports as they come to committee, when the committee begins its public review of these documents. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried. Thank you.
---Carried
Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs consult with local government administrators of the Northwest Territories and the Northwest Territories Association of Municipalities on the proposed actions contained in the action plan before finalizing it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion, Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As public engagement is an important priority of this government and we want to make sure we are making informed decisions that take into account the people that are most affected, the committee has put forward this recommendation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried. Thank you, committee.
---Carried
Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs include indicators in its action plan which measure progress in implementing identified actions as a means of achieving improvements in essential service delivery at the community level. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor and an order. To the motion, Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, this motion recommends something that is quite self-explanatory, ensuring we have appropriate indicators, so we can, in fact, measure the progress that we are hoping to achieve. Given that the audit is related to the provision of essential services in communities including emergency preparedness, fire, water, the committee believes that having clear indicators is of crucial importance to our communities moving forward. We hope that this will be adopted, and we will see those indicators in the final action plan. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried. Thank you, committee.
---Carried
Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly strongly recommend that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs simplify its approach in responding to the Auditor General's recommendations at paragraphs 109 and 112 of the Auditor General's report, such that the proposed actions are responsive to the purpose and intent of each recommendation; and further, that the department subsequently adjust its 2019-20 target date, identified under proposed priority action 109.6, to allow for a more timely response. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor and in order. To the motion. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a more technical issue that the committee has taken with the report. It relates in particular to the contribution agreements with designated authorities and also adjusting the target dates of the priority actions undertaken therein. There is still a lot of grey area related to designated authorities and who is actually responsible. The department struggles with their relationship with these entities. The committee is quite concerned about this and would like to ensure that how we are proceeding on them is clear and specific to what the department wants to achieve. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Thank you, Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this report within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor and an order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Thank you, committee. Committee, do you agree that we have concluded consideration of Committee Report 9-18(2): Report on the Review of the 2016 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Support to Communities for Municipal Services in the Northwest Territories - Municipal and Community Affairs.
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We have concluded our consideration of Committee Report 9-18(2). What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.
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-debatable.
---Carried.
I will rise and report progress. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Committee Report 7-18(2), Report on the Review of Members' Conduct Guidelines and Committee Report 9-18(2), Report on the Review of the 2016 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Support to Communities for Municipal Services. I would like to report progress, with nine motions being adopted; that Committee Reports 7-18(2) and 9-18(2) are concluded. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Masi. Do we have a seconder? Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
---Carried
