Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Interim Appropriation Act, 1992-93 provides the authority for the government to continue operations until the main appropriation act for operations and maintenance expenditures is presented and approved by the Legislative Assembly. Once the main appropriation act for 1992-93 operations is approved, the interim authority ceases to have effect.
The Interim Appropriation Act is intended to provide the minimum appropriation authority required to maintain operations until the end of July, 1992. The interim appropriation calculations are based on the revised 1991-92 budget. These calculations include no allowance for inflationary or volume growth beyond what was experienced in the 1991-92 fiscal year. As a result, departments will have to carefully manage expenditures during the period covered by the Interim Appropriation Act.
Mr. Chairman, the Interim Appropriation Act includes no amounts for program or services enhancements, nor does it reflect any significant program or services reduction provisions. Major changes to current operations should not be made before a full budget is developed and debated in the Legislative Assembly. I have previously advised Members that it is the government's intention to present the full O and M budget to the standing committee on finance in June of 1992.
Mr. Chairman, concern has been expressed that the Interim Appropriation Act is based on appropriation levels that are forecasted to generate a significant deficit in the 1991-92 fiscal year. However, until the government has had adequate time to develop well-thought-out plans, consult with affected parties and debate proposals in the Legislative Assembly, it would be premature to attempt to make the significant adjustments that are necessary to deal with the deficit. As a result, the government has asked for this interim time to properly plan and consult. We thank Members for agreeing to this approach. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.