Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I want to thank my honourable colleague for this honour.
---Laughter
This is a training course they offer to the committee.
---Laughter Negotiated Contracts
During its review of the 1994-95 main estimates, the committee noted a number of concerns relating to the government's way of negotiating contracts. These concerns are summarized in the following excerpt from the committee report:
"In many communities, negotiated contracts have helped establish successful aboriginal enterprises. However, there is a perception that negotiated contracts may, somehow, be less 'fair' than tendered contracts. As well, there have been serious problems with some negotiated contracts, whether negotiated or tendered. All contracts must be better monitored. The committee also believes that full public disclosure of negotiated contracts would help to ensure that value for money could be assessed."
The committee therefore recommended that the government develop policies and procedures for providing full public disclosure of the details of negotiated contracts, and for monitoring all contracts in order to avoid cost overruns and poor management. The committee asked that this policy and these procedures be in place before August 1, 1994, and that copies of the policy and procedures be provided to the Standing Committee on Finance.
The committee did not receive a response to its recommendation by the deadline date. However, on September 13, 1994, the committee was informed that the Department of Public Works and Services had undertaken to draft policies and procedures, in conjunction with the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Department of Transportation, the NWT Housing Corporation and Economic Development and Tourism. The response suggested that the departments were working toward a completion date of December 1994. No indication was given as to why an extension of the deadline is necessary. The Standing Committee on Finance will follow up on this issue when it meets in January 1995 to review the main estimates.
Maximizing Northern Employment
During its review of the 1994-95 main estimates, the committee recommended that the government develop an options paper outlining all possible means of maximizing northern employment and northern spending on work contracted by the government and, further, that the government respond to the Standing Committee on Finance with this paper by August 1, 1994.
The committee did not receive the options paper by August 1, 1994. However, on September 13, 1994, the committee was provided with the following information, and I quote:
"Maximizing northern employment and northern spending on work contracted by the government will be included in the scope of the undertaking referred to in recommendation 4, (negotiated contracts) and will include the participation of Education, Culture and Employment.
The target completion date for work on negotiated contracts is December 1994, therefore, the Standing Committee on Finance will follow up on this issue when it meets in January 1995 to review the main estimates.
Special Needs Of Northern Students
During its review of the 1994-95 main estimates, the committee recommended that the government commit to allocating sufficient resources to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for the 1994-95 school year to meet the special needs of northern students.
The committee did not receive a response to this recommendation prior to the commencement of the 1994-95 school year. However, on September 13, 1994, the committee was provided with the following information:
"The Department of Education, Culture and Employment receives funding based on an enrolment-related formula to provide contributions to school boards for their operations. One component of the formula addresses the special needs of northern students. There is provision for special needs consultants based on board enrolments, special needs teachers and assistants based on school enrolments and an O and M component for special needs.
In addition, the 1994-95 funding provided for a new formula factor to address unique transportation requirements of special needs students.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment continues to address the concept of inclusive schooling in its 1995-96 budget submission."
Committee Members were somewhat disappointed with this response. They were very, very disappointed, I must say, Madam Speaker. Some of the committee Members cried, actually. The intention of the recommendation was to encourage the department to scrutinize the special needs of northern students, to assess the resources currently being allocated and to consider allocating additional resources, if necessary. In the committee's Investing in Our Future, October 1994 report, Members recommended that special needs for northern students be the focus of a major government initiative over the next year. Recommendation 4 is on page 27.
The next item deals with the very famous Mortgage Investment Corporation.
Mortgage Investment Corporation
During its review of the 1994-95 main estimates, the committee recommended the government continue to investigate mechanisms such as a Mortgage Investment Corporation and provide a status report to the committee by August 1, 1994. I emphasize August 1, August 1994.
The committee did not receive a response -- we've said that quite a bit, haven't we? I think there's a message here, right? -- to this recommendation by this deadline. In a letter dated August 8, 1994, the Minister informed the committee chairman that work on this initiative is behind schedule and a report will not be ready until September. September. Where is September? September has come and gone. The letter goes on to request that the deadline be changed to when the Standing Committee on Finance reviews the 1995-96 main estimates.
The department informed the committee that an interdepartmental committee comprise of representatives from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Department of Executive, Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and Financial Management Board Secretariat has been formed and mortgage investment corporations are being investigated.
So, Madam Speaker, it is with much reluctance that I will turn over this task to my colleague, Mr. Dent, with your concurrence. Thank you.
---Applause