Appropriation Act and I would like to invite Minister Mr. Todd, Minister of Finance, to introduce the bill, please.
Debates of Oct. 16th, 1996
Topics
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1195
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1195
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you very much Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Supplementary Appropriation Act #1, requests authority for additional appropriations of $5,072,223 made up of $511,133 from operation and maintenance and $4,561,090 from capital expenditures. The additional appropriations will not impact on the forecasted deficit for 96/97 approximately $2,000,000 is offset by, either additional revenues to be recorded in 1997 or funding transfers.
The balance of the appropriations include capital carry-overs and other minor items provided for in the estimated supplementary requirements in the 96/97 main estimates. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1195
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Todd. I would like now, to invite the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, Mr. Erasmus, for Committee comments.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1195
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed bill 20 Supplementary Appropriation #1 1996/97. The committee is pleased to note that this supplementary appropriation is for a relatively small amount. The majority of the items are either transfers from departments as a result of government initiatives, such as user say/user pay, or payments which will be cost recovered from other sources, such as the federal government.
It would appear from the supplementary appropriation that departments are not budgeting for supplementary appropriations as has happened in the past, but are making sincere efforts to live within the amounts allocated during the budget process. During the review of the Bill with the Minister of Finance, Members did have questions about the process for leasing space and tenant improvements for that space. This was tied in to a concern about negotiated contracts. Members of the Committee want to ensure that any expenditures for leases or tenant improvements are done in a cost-effective way and that, where tenant improvements are necessary they are specific to the actual space being leased.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee hopes that future supplementary appropriations will also be small and reflect the efforts of the agencies and departments to live within their budgets. Standing Committee on Government Operations has no recommendations regarding Bill 20. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. I would now like to ask the Minister, would you like to bring in witnesses?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, yes, indeed I would.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
The Chair Vince Steen
You may bring in your witness. Could I have Mr. Todd introduce the witness, please?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
John Todd Keewatin Central
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my immediate right is Miss Debbie Delancy who is Mr. Voytilla's right-hand lady.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you Mr. Todd and welcome to the Committee. I now open the floor to general comments on the Bill by Members. Are there any general comments on the Bill by Members. Mr. Ootes.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
I have a question, Mr. Chairman, but not general comments on this Bill.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The item I wish to question the Minister about is with regard to the NWT Development Corporation and the fire at the Pangnirtung print shop, which, I understand, took place about one year ago, or a year and a half ago, and in the process of this the Government, apparently, paid the insurance policy of some $250,000. The Government, is pardon, me, I will correct that, I believe the Government has paid $250,000 towards the rebuilding which is collectable back from the insurance company.
My question to the Minister is, why did this Government handle this payment instead of the Development Corporation?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Could I ask Members to hold their questions to specific items until we have reached that in the review? Is that agreed? So, if Members have questions in general comment form we would be open to those at this time. Are there any general comments? If not, and the Members agree, we will then move on, clause by clause on the Bill.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
The Chair Vince Steen
I would like to point out to Members that this is the Supplementary Appropriation document that accompanies the Bill. We will start on page 5 of the document. Are we prepared? On top of page 5 - Legislative Assembly Operations and Maintenance. Office of the Clerk, not previously authorized $3,500.
Total department $3,500. Agreed?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
The Chair Vince Steen
On page 6, Executive Operations and Maintenance, not previously authorized, Executive Council Secretariat $1,623,600 negative. Agreed?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
The Chair Vince Steen
Page 7, Operations and Maintenance, not previously authorized, Financial Management Board Secretariat Directorate $26,000. Agreed?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1196
The Chair Vince Steen
Page 8, not previously authorized, Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, $3,900.