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.