Mr. Chairman, a general point should be made from the outset about the committee's role in responding to an initiative undertaken by the government with respect to the management of public boards and agencies. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions has been made aware that the function and suitability of government-created boards and agencies are being evaluated by the Cabinet. This has been linked to a general recommendation in the "Strength at Two Levels" report which states that all boards and agencies should be assessed specifically in light of elimination, downsizing or consolidation.
It should be clear that review projects undertaken by the Cabinet in this regard are their own. Where certain Ministers have determined that a review is necessary and have asked for input on a specific proposal, the standing committee has been willing to consider reviewing departmental plans and providing the Cabinet with some feedback to the reporting procedures established by the rules of this House. While the committee expects to be informed about government initiatives in this area, it is not a requirement that the standing committee conduct a comprehensive review of each and every Cabinet strategy for board modification or elimination.
On certain occasions, and particularly with respect to the review of the Denendeh Conservation Board, Members of the standing committee have been concerned by public comments that Ministers' hands have been tied by the fact that the matter was being considered by the standing committee. The Cabinet should be mindful that the committee priorities have been set by the workplan that was tabled in the Legislative Assembly in Committee Report 3-12(1). Where the opportunity permits itself, the standing committee may decide to respond to ministerial requests for input on key board management issues; however, the government should realize that the standing committee takes its work very seriously and that once a request for input is accepted, the review will be a thorough one which may take some time.
In responding to the government's request for input, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions focused initially on the authorities under which the Denendeh Conservation Board had been established. There are no statutory provisions nor established policy directives for this board. In general terms, however, the board received its mandate from an agreement between the Dene-Metis Negotiating Secretariat and the Government of the Northwest Territories in 1986. The board is a model of the sort of wildlife management board described in the Dene-Metis claim. The Minister of the day provided the board with the following operational mandate: "The Denendeh Conservation Board is authorized by the Minister of Renewable Resources to provide recommendations within the Department of Renewable Resources to the Minister. The board provides advice on wildlife, habitat and forestry issues and other issues as they relate to the department's mandate." When the Dene-Metis Comprehensive Claim process was replaced by the establishment of regional land claims for Dene-Metis, the authority for the Denendeh Conservation Board became uncertain.
This uncertainty, coupled with fiscal restraint requirements imposed by the Executive Council, impacted on the operation of the Denendeh Conservation Board. The standing committee
was advised that the board has not met since October of 1991. Mr. Chairman, I will ask our chairman of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions or Mr. Dent to conclude. Thank you.