Debates of March 31, 2004 (day 12)

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. I will direct this question to the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat. With reference to my Member’s statement and budgeting cycle, while the government might be a government function, can the Minister explain to me what role as a regular Member do I have in terms in influencing the budget for the benefits of my constituents and my riding in the near future?

Good question.

----Applause

Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our consensus style of government allows Members more than any other jurisdiction to be involved in the development of the budget. For example, we sat down as 19 Members and discussed what fiscal strategy we would use, and going forward on that, we started building the budget. We know that our timeline was very tight, but coming forward to the next system, Members will be directly involved in the business planning process from that three-year business plan process. We will then take the comments of Members and develop a draft main estimates. Then again Members will be able to review those draft main estimates and we will further take those comments and then develop them into the main estimates that are before the House, like at this time. So there are a number of opportunities where Members will be involved in the development of that process. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just a follow-up on the business plan cycle for the Minister responsible. I would also like to ask the Minister what commitments he will assure me that I can and will have active participation in the leading of the direction of our government in this business plan cycle, because I am given to understand that plans may already be under foot in terms of setting up the business plan for our July session. Thank you.

Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again the actual work that would begin on the business plan process doesn’t begin until June. There are a number of broad strategies that Members are aware of when we talk about what we will do with the effectiveness and efficiency of our government overall, with the partnerships that we want to work on and develop in the Northwest Territories. So there is already input at that level. Mr. Speaker, for the Members, there will definitely be a process that they will be involved in, and as Minister responsible I will be seeking information from them as we go down and develop some of the scenarios even before we put them into the business plan. So I will commit to start seeking that information. Members might not all agree with what is on the table, so there will be some tough choices to make in the future, and I intend to involve all of the Members in that. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Mr. Speaker, throughout discussing the budget here for the past two weeks the biggest concern, of course, is how do we as regular Members help our government in the exercise of reducing $20 million in each of the next two years. My recent experience kind of concerns me as how much input will we really have. Can the Minister again explain to me how we can have input into reducing the size of our expenditures in order to match our revenue?

Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we went through this process and committee Members saw the draft mains, comments that were said about what we should look at for saving money and saving initiatives, cost-saving measures that were said through the committee process have been taken and will be looked at as we step forward. As now Members are aware of certain areas we should look at, Members suggested, for example, Mr. Speaker, a zero-based budgeting exercise. I think as a government we should seriously look at using that as an exercise as we develop the next budget process. So there are a number of ways. As comments are made in this forum here, as we went through the draft mains in Committee of the Whole, as committee Members went through them in committee themselves with each department, there will be that direct interaction that we will have from regular Members and Ministers. As well, if Members have ideas they want us to look at as we begin that development, please, as I stated, I am looking for any options that are available to us for coming up with the next $20 million in cost avoidance and savings. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for that response. I just want to get some assurances that before the July session that I don’t want to be in the position where I am given a binder, and that there is nothing I can do about it no matter how much I kick and scream. So I am just looking for direct input into that process, and I would just like to get the assurance of the Minister again that yes, indeed, I am a part of this government, and that I will and can have input into our budget as it concerns me for the remainder of my term. Thank you very much.

----Applause

Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we should also say that Members are involved in, for example, setting the priorities of this government, what are high priorities. So it is not all about cutting, we are still spending $1 billion in the Northwest Territories. So it is how we spend that billion dollars, what are the high priorities of this Assembly, and we will take those and look at areas of lower priority and do some shuffling of the deck. That will include involvement from Members, we need that input. We have heard comments already on some of the areas of importance here. A lot of the budget though will be based on existing programs, what we spend on schools and students in schools, what we spend on health care services. So although there is some flexibility, there are also some parameters that will set up the bulk of the business plan process. As I stated, I intend to include Members as we go through this process so that there is some involvement. At the end of the day, there are still going to be those who are not happy with what's on the deck, not with all of it. So we're going to work with the Members and try to build what we can best come up with as a balance for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.