Thank you Mr. Chairman. Under Executive. Dissolution of the Department of Personnel. When the functions of the old Department of Personnel, later the Personnel Secretariat were distributed to the departments, the Executive retained a budget of 2.2 million along with 9 PYs. The Committee had some interest in the use of the 2.2 million that was retained by the department. Sorry. The Minister assured the Committee that the money is being used as planned in the areas of policy development, auditing and training and community empowerment.
The Committee was interested in the mandate for the Working Group on Territorial Interests. The Minister stated that this Committee is comprised of Deputy Ministers who are developing a mandate for community empowerment. The Minister expects a framework to be developed and brought to Cabinet in October.
Committee members are concerned that the Government is barging ahead with community empowerment without having first completed this mandate. Developing a mandate for community empowerment should have been completed before any implementation is carried out.
On the physical and political autonomy, the Committee was informed the strategic plan for intergovernmental relations was being developed and should be ready in September. The Minister noted that the strategic plan was being developed by Cabinet has yet to review it. Committee members are concerned that this plan should be reviewed by all members before being implemented.
Devolution and community empowerment. The Committee has concerns that the Government does not have policy in place which lists those programs and services that are absent for devolution to regions and communities. Members are particularly concerned about transportation infrastructure. The Committee wants to ensure that highways and airports are not on the table of items that can be devolved. I will now ask the member from Nunakput to read the next section of the Standing Committee's report. Thank you, Mr. Chair.