Debates of February 18, 2009 (day 13)
QUESTION 157-16(3): CONSULTATION PROCESS FOR PROPOSED BOARD REFORM
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for Minister Miltenberger, Minister for refocusing government. I’d like to ask the Minister what meaningful work and consultation has been done with the boards to find efficiencies prior to taking the singular approach of a board roll-up. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Lead Minister for refocusing government, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger.
Mr. Speaker, for my entire time in this Assembly the boards, like every other part of government, has worked with the government-of-the-day to hit the various targets as we struggled with efficiencies, as we struggled with deficits. The first budget of this Assembly is a case in point where we had to struggle with reductions. All the boards were involved in their respective areas along with the rest of government. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, is the Minister saying that no consultation about this approach was taken in advance to discuss, design, find efficiencies prior to the roll-up decision? Thank you.
The issue of efficiencies within the current structures have been looked at as we’ve done business from Assembly to Assembly, depending on the fiscal circumstances. We took this on and there has been 10 years of work. I’ve laid out some of the reports that have been done: the Strength at Two Levels, the Cuff report, there was a report back to the 13th Assembly, the Deloitte Touche report. This is some of the work that has been done all for many hundreds of thousands of dollars. We’ve, as well, brought this up in the House with statements, it was reviewed in committee. There has been a lot of lead up to this. This is not an issue that just came on to the table. It’s been with us now for a decade or so. Thank you.