Thank you. Mr. Chairman, in addition to the systems problems, there are also people problems. The committee is concerned that managers are not managing their resources properly, and they do not clearly understand their responsibilities. The Financial Administration Act stated quite clearly that managers should not spend money If they do not have the necessary money in their budgets, but every year, managers and departments continue to overexpend. The committee accepts the fact that from time to time managers may require more resources than they have been given in their annual budgets. What they cannot accept is the willingness of managers to spend money they do not have in their budgets. In such cases, there is no excuse for not coming before the Assembly with a request for supplementary appropriations.
Motion To Accept Recommendation 3, Carried
To overcome this problem, our committee recommends, and I move, Mr. Chairman, our third recommendation: Government must make sure that all managers are aware of their responsibilities for their budgets, and must ensure that all managers stay within their budgets and spend moneys property, according to approved procedures and the requirements of the Financial Administration Act. If managers lack the necessary skills in the area of financial management, they must receive appropriate training, and government must hold managers accountable for their performance matters. It must link financial management directly to merit increases for good performances, and to disciplinary action for poor performances.