Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Barnabas.
Debates of May 21st, 1996
Topics
Committee Motion 7-13(3): Priority Hospital Facilities In Inuvik And Iqaluit, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 529
The Chair John Ningark
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 529
The Chair John Ningark
Standing Committee On Infrastructure Comments
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 529
Levi Barnabas High Arctic
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's my pleasure to present the comments of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure regarding the Department of Finance.
One of the 24 options was a proposal to consolidate the Department of Finance and the Financial Management Board Secretariat. The standing committee discussed this proposal with the Minister over the course of the business plan review process.
At first Members felt that the proposal had merit, however, following discussions with the members of the Auditor General's staff, committee Members now feel that the Department of Finance and the Financial Management Board Secretariat should remain separate. The auditors expressed some important concerns about merging the agency primarily responsible for revenue, the Department of Finance. With the agency primarily responsible for the budget and expenditure coordination, the FMBS, we understand that the Minister and his staff are examining options for this proposal. The standing committee looks forward to reviewing those options with this Minister later this year. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 529
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. That concludes the comments from the appropriate committee. Before we get into general comments I would like to ask the honourable Minister if he wishes to bring in any witnesses. Mr. Minister.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 529
John Todd
If I may, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
The Chair John Ningark
Agreed?
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please escort the witnesses. Thank you. Mr. Minister, for the record can you please introduce your witnesses.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
John Todd
On my immediate right is Margaret Melhorn and on my left is Mr. Tony Dawson.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. General comments? Mr. Picco.
General Comments
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Mr. Chairman, in the Infrastructure committee we talked about the amalgamation of Finance and FMBS. Could the Minister provide us with an update on what's happening regarding that?
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
John Todd
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At the present time it's on hold based upon further review. That's where it sits.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. General comments, Mr. Picco.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
Edward Picco Iqaluit
That was a nice short answer.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
The Chair John Ningark
Are there any further general comments? Detail. Agreed?
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Line By Line
Directorate
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
The Chair John Ningark
Section 4, page 8, directorate, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $596,000. Agreed?
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Treasury
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Treasury, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $8.301 million. Mr. Roland.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The treasury area includes taxes. I'd like to know when your department has worked on increasing education taxes.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
John Todd
I tried to answer that question in a return to oral question last week. We did the taxation issue earlier in the year. It was in the fall of 1995.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Roland.
Committee Report 2-13(3): Standing Committee On Infrastructure Report On The Review Of The 1996-97 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 530
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Are there any other possible increase in any of the taxes coming up?