Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, there is a small allocation of revenue expected for 2018-2019 within the lease revenue category of our revenues. We're looking at approximately $117,000 projected at this time, recognizing that the three Fort Smith duplexes that are scheduled for upfront delivery will be, the aim is to have those in place in the coming year. We'd only be looking at a partial year for 2018-2019. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the answer from Mr. Martin. I guess my next question is: when are we going to be fulfilling the whole mandate with the RCMP housing? Because now we're only talking three duplexes. I know in my riding in Fort Simpson, we're supposed to be looking at a minimum of six units, and Hay River is on the board; so is Inuvik and that. Can the Minister please provide us with an update when we could see these other units being implemented into the communities? Thank you. Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We've been working with the RCMP and the Treasury Board on this for many years, actually. If it was my say, then we would be moving ahead at a faster rate, but it is not up to us. This is the RCMP at the federal level who are delegating this. At one time, they were looking at getting right out of providing their housing, but now they might be looking at retaining some, so I am not even sure that they are actually really clear at this time on what they are doing. So we are watching them closely. We are supporting them. We have told them we have the capacity and we are willing to work with them, but it really is not about me deciding on when. It's about the federal RCMP deciding, treasury board deciding, when this will happen. I do have to say that the RCMP have remained committed to the full 45 units. It's just a matter of when they decide it's best for them. There may be financial implications within that for themselves, but they have a commitment for us. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess, the MLAs who are affected by this decision, can the Minister make a commitment to keep us updated on this? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, absolutely. As soon as we hear more and there are firm commitments, we will share that with the MLAs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. NWT Housing Corporation, total department, $102,876,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Does committee agree this concludes our consideration of the NWT Housing Corporation?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. I will call a brief five-minute recess, and we will continue after with the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, committee.
---SHORT RECESS
I call committee back to order. Committee, we have agreed to next consider the Legislative Assembly, which begins on page 1 of the main estimates. I will turn to our Speaker for opening comments. Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am pleased to present the 2018-2019 estimates for the Legislative Assembly.
The Assembly is seeking an operations expenditure appropriation of $20,790,000 for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. This is an increase of $1,454,000, approximately a 7.5 per cent increase in funding from our 2017-2018 main estimates.
This budget represents the important work we will undertake during the upcoming fiscal year. The proposed funding will be used to advance strategic initiatives and address forced growth matters. These are:
Additional staff resources for our statutory offices to meet increasing demands;
Additional funding for Elections NWT for staff resources and program initiatives as they begin preparations for the 2019 territorial election;
Legislative Assembly public education and communications initiatives;
Needed improvements and replacements to the Legislative Assembly building;
Adjustment of Members' compensation and allowances based on the Consumer Price Index;
Pension obligations of Members' plans; and
Contributions to the governance and development of the capital area.
The Legislative Assembly remains committed to supporting the good work of our statutory offices. With new legislation coming into force and better public awareness, the offices of the Human Rights Commission and the Information and Privacy Commissioner are experiencing increasing and more complex caseloads. The Legislative Assembly is keenly aware of the importance of these offices having the resources needed to meet their demands.
With the 2019 general election just over a year and a half away, Elections NWT will be ramping up for operations to ensure that they are prepared for this election period. Effective communications remain a priority as efforts continue, by my staff, to provide the people of the Northwest Territories and visitors with timely information about the important work and the history of the Legislative Assembly.
Also, the upcoming year will mark the first time in many years that the Legislative Assembly will need to contribute to the Members' pension plans in order to ensure that these plans are adequately funded. This budget also proposes a contribution to support our participation in the governance, upkeep, and future development of the capital area. The capital area is home to all orders of government, including the Legislative Assembly, and also includes the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.
The Legislative Assembly remains committed to upholding the priorities of the 18th Assembly and stands by the principles of an accountable and transparent government. This budget represents a responsible and efficient approach to conducting the business and operations of the Legislative Assembly. In closing, Mr. Chair, I want to thank all Members, my colleagues on the board of management, and Assembly staff for their contributions and efforts in working towards these estimates.
Masi, Mr. Chair. That concludes my opening remarks. I look forward to answering any questions Members may have.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand you have witnesses you wish to bring into the Chamber, so I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses into the Chamber, and you may take your seat at the witness table. Mr. Speaker, would you please introduce your witnesses for the record?
Masi, Mr. Chair. I have to my left Mr. Darrin Ouellette. He is director of corporate services. To my right is Tim Mercer, the clerk.
Thank you, and welcome to the witnesses. The total of the Legislative Assembly can be found on page 5, but we will defer the total until consideration of the activity detail. There are four activities, the first beginning on page 8, expenditures on behalf of Members. Comments or questions from committee? Mr. Vanthuyne.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, in your opening comments you referred to adjustments of Members' compensation and allowances based on the Consumer Price Index, and so I am just wondering: how much does the CPI increase in the Members' compensation and allowances actually amount to?
Thank you. Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Chair, that particular amount would amount to approximately $70,000.
Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So how does the $70,000 actually break down between salaries and constituency budgets? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the way it's broken down is that it's evenly split between roughly half for MLA salary and allowances and half to adjustment of the constituency budget. That is how it's laid out in the budget. Masi.
Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the Speaker for that reply. Further to that, can the Speaker let us know: are these CPI increases retroactive to 2016 and 2017? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this has been brought up before, if it was retroactive, and it's not. They do take into effect April 1, 2018, and it is not retroactive. MLAs' salaries were frozen for 2016-2017. That was the decision that was made at that time. Masi.
Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Okay, and the decision was made at that time, but how in fact were the adjustments determined? Can the Speaker let us know that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Chair, that particular area is laid out in the legislation. The current system was put in place, obviously, following the recommendation of an independent commission that was established in 2005; so, based on that, it is part of legislation, though. Masi.
Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the Speaker for that reply. I guess maybe one last question would be: has there been any other thought given to different ways in which to adjust MLAs' salaries? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the current system was put in place, again, based on the recommendation of an independent compensation commission. There is another independent commission that is currently reviewing the MLAs' compensation as we speak, and I understand that they are considering this particular matter before them. I do hope and expect a report by this summer, and the plan will be to table that in the fall session. Mr. Chair, masi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Anything further, Mr. Vanthuyne?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nothing further at this time. Thank you.
Thank you. Next, I have Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just under the Members' pension expenses, when is the last time the Legislative Assembly made a contribution to the MLA pension plan? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it has been quite some time. It has been over 20 years, since the late 1990s; approximately 20-plus years. Masi.
Thank you. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is that defined benefit pension plans like these are funded through a combination of employee and employer contributions. Have MLAs been contributing to these plans since the 1990s? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the answer would be yes. MLAs over the years, even continuing until this day, contributed 9 per cent of their salaries to the plan. Masi.
Thank you. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, how has the plan been able to survive without any employer or public contributions? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
