Mr. Chairman, I don't know when the documents were tabled, but there are originals here that we can photocopy for the Members if they don't have it. The cost of setting it up on a one-time basis is estimated at about $800,000. The time that we are giving to set up for the enactment of this legislation is two years. It includes legal costs, the cost of setting up a directory -- which is about $250,000 -- the set-up of an office and a Commissioner -- which is a little less than $400,000 -- the costs to departments, and other smaller items that tally up to $800,000. The same applies to the roughly $972,000 of ongoing O and M. That was our estimate.
The question to the Members is, would it be more acceptable or less acceptable, even if those figures were halved. Let's say we went with $400,000 and $500,000 per year; $400,000 in one-time costs and $500,000 in ongoing costs. Is it politically acceptable to have ongoing costs of $500,000? We can make a commitment, as a government, to report, after one year, on the costs of moving to implement this act. If we are asked to do this work, we can bring revised estimates in that would help us reduce the costs.
For instance, Members feel it is not necessary to have a full-time Commissioner; we can budget accordingly. But, Members should also know that one out of 10 people in the Northwest Territories works for this government right now. It is the highest ratio in Canada. It is two to three times what other jurisdictions have. This legislation is going to create a few more civil servants, whether they are part time or not. We are still creating a bureaucracy.
As I said, the legislation is not going to be enacted for two years. Those of us who are concerned about costs can take some comfort in knowing that if it is a growing concern, and the financial situation of the government worsens, then someone in the right capacity could move an amendment in the next government suggesting deferral of this legislation. That is not beyond the realm of possibility.
But, more importantly, to give comfort to Members, perhaps in a year, we could reduce the implicated costs of this bill. We could do that, if we're asked. Thank you.