Mr. Speaker, today I would like to provide the Assembly with an update on the work of the Refocusing Government Strategic Initiative Committee. This committee has been tasked by Cabinet with advancing a number of this Assembly’s priorities related to the operations of government, including improving service delivery to small communities, managing the cost of government and examining how we can change the structure of government to deliver better results.
One of the Assembly’s priorities is to complete a thorough analysis of the efficiency, effectiveness and value of current government operations. To accomplish this, we have established a program review office in the Department of Executive. This office will lead a number of activities designed to manage expenditure growth, make our programs and services more effective and improve the government’s success in reporting on results.
The office is up and running and has begun to identify priority areas for targeted program review. This work will proceed in partnership with departments to ensure that we get solid, credible program information combined with objective analysis and program evaluation expertise.
The program review office will also ensure that the government has policies in place to ensure that the departments conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of all programs and services and that we use the results of these evaluations to support tough decisions about allocation of government resources.
To begin this work, we are taking a close look at some of the program areas that represent the greatest proportion of our expenditures — health programs, schools, and adult education and training — to see if there is potential for improved efficiency or savings. We’re also looking at program areas that have been identified as priorities by the Assembly, including youth and economic development programs, to ensure we are getting value for our investments.
Mr. Speaker, another key component of the work to increase efficiency of government operations is to reduce the number of boards and agencies that have been set up to deliver government programs and services. This is not a new challenge for this Assembly. There have been a number of reviews on this topic, including extensive work done during the 15th Assembly, and all have recommended that the number of boards and agencies needs to be reduced.
Altogether well over 100 boards and agencies are involved in the delivery of government services. As a first step we are looking at streamlining and structuring operations of boards in three key program areas: health and social services, education and housing. Today there are 70 boards at the regional and community level involved in governance in these areas. These boards were created with the best of intentions to ensure that there is local and regional input into decision-making.
This proliferation of boards has actually created barriers to service delivery. Roles and responsibilities are confused, meaning there is often no clear accountability. There’s duplication and overlap in administration, resulting in fewer resources available for programs. Clients must deal with two or three agencies to obtain services when they would benefit from an integrated approach. The level and quality of services delivered differs from region to region, and it is a continual challenge to find enough people to fill all the board positions.
We are proposing to reduce the number of government boards for these programs from 70 to seven by establishing six regional service boards to oversee and coordinate all program delivery for health and social services, education and housing, and one coordinating committee including board Chairs and the appropriate Ministers. Based on the very successful model of the Tlicho Community Services Agency, these regional boards will be built on greater efficiency and a more client focused, service oriented approach. They will be structured to be congruent with emerging aboriginal self-government boundaries and will support the eventual transfer of program responsibilities to these governments.
There will still be an opportunity for communities to have input into programs and services at the local level through community education committees or interagency committees. How communities choose to do this will be different from region to region.
We recognize that there are challenges. In Yellowknife, for example, there are three existing education boards with very broad mandates, and the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority serves a larger population than any other regional authority. We will have to take the time to assess how to implement reform in this complex situation. In other regions we should be able to move more quickly to implementation.
Mr. Speaker, we understand that there is a strong desire on the part of existing boards to provide input as we move forward. We will still be seeking the views and ideas of current board members and administrators and other key stakeholders on how to proceed. But be very clear: we are not consulting on whether board reform is needed. We are determined to move forward with this long overdue initiative with a view to implementation in the 2010–2011 fiscal year.
There’s a lot of work to do to meet this target. Work is underway to define the functions and responsibilities of the new regional service boards. Further work will need to be done to streamline and integrate financial and administrative systems. There will be a need for legislative amendments and significant human resource challenges, as well as further analysis of the potential costs and savings associated with implementation.
We have been working in cooperation with all the departments to roll out this proposal. We have begun consultations with the chief executive officers of health and social services authorities and the district education authorities. We intend to meet with all authorities in the near future.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to having the Chairs of the Social Programs Committee and the Economic Development Infrastructure Committee join us at the Refocusing Government committee table. Their perspective will add great value to this important work.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Michael McLeod.
