On Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, these are the comments by the Standing Committee on Finance. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Finance reviewed Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, at its meetings in Yellowknife on March 11 and 13. The Standing Committee was pleased that the Minister of Finance and his staff were available to answer questions at that time.

Mr. Chairman, in total the bill represents a further appropriation of $8.875 million for the current fiscal year. If this bill is passed, the total supplementary appropriation for the fiscal year of 1992-93 will be approximately $31 million.

During our meeting on March 13, the committee agreed to recommend this bill to the House for consideration. The standing committee would like to commend the government for its attempts to restrict the number of items and the total amount of supplementary appropriations for 1992-93. However, the committee did have several concerns with this bill and I will speak to the major issues. Members of the committee may have comments on the details of this bill while we go through it in committee of the whole.

The committee is concerned about the whole operational budgeting process. We questioned the number of requests for funding that were unanticipated. The committee also questioned why the government does not have more accurate means of forecasting the total amount of anticipated expenditures. In some cases, the standing committee is concerned about the amount of funds required for specific budget items. The committee noted two areas where it felt the requirement for funds should have been anticipated. The first is the recreation salary subsidy program, additional funds are required to subsidize the salaries of recreation leaders who graduate from recreation leader programs in the spring of 1992. The committee feels that funding for the subsidy program should have been included in the main estimates.

The second area is the local management agreements with communities to conduct polar bear studies and to live up to the obligations of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild flora and fauna, CITES, I guess. The committee believes the requirement for these funds should have been anticipated.

The Standing Committee on Finance is concerned about the total cost of the forest fire management review in the Department of Renewable Resources. While the purpose of the review is not questioned, the committee feels the cost for the review of this one division is high.

The standing committee noted that the cost to the Government of the Northwest Territories for participation in Expo does not represent good value for money invested. The committee hopes that, at the very least, valuable lessons were learned as a result of this experience.

The Standing Committee on Finance recognizes the difficulties facing the government in terms of its attempts to balance the budget. The committee would like to give its full support to the government in these efforts. Mahsi, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Does this committee agree that the Minister bring in his officials at this time?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Proceed, Mr. Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, bring the witnesses in. Mr. Minister, for the record, will you introduce your witnesses?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The gentleman I have with me is Mr. Lew Voytilla, who is the secretary to the financial management board. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Are there any general comments? Would this committee like to go to details now?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Legislative Assembly

On page six, Legislative Assembly, operations and maintenance, not previously authorized, $128,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Total department, $128,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Department Of Finance

Thank you. Finance, operations and maintenance, government accounting, not previously authorized, $500,000. Mr. Koe.

Is this $500,000 to fund cost increases, domestic and commercial subsidies, pursuant to the power subsidy program? Of this $9.445 million, how much of that is related to the power subsidy program?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, I do not have the exact dollar figure, but it is about $3.5 million.

Thank you. Mr. Koe.

The $500,000 that is being requested is an increase over and above the $3.5 million, so it is going to go to $4 million, is that roughly correct, a 15 or 16 per cent increase?

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Koe has the better of me. I do not know if it is three going to three and a half or three and a half going to four, but I will get that number for you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you. Government accounting, not previously authorized, $500,000. Mr. Gargan.

I could see the increase happening because of higher consumption, but do we also get power rate increases?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

There was a six per cent increase in power rates, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you. Government accounting, not previously authorized, $500,000. Member for Thebacha.