Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present the 1996-97 main estimates of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Chairman, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs works in partnership with municipal governments and communities. MACA works with communities by providing training and technical advice and support on a wide range of municipal programs and services.
For the 1996-97 fiscal year, operations and maintenance and capital estimates of $106.153 million are proposed for the department. This amount is a decrease of 2.6 per cent over the combined 1995-96 main estimates.
The department has cut five person years, all at headquarters; from 141.8 to 136.8 person years.
Mr. Chairman, the department is proposing 1996-97 capital main estimates of $35.562 million; a reduction of 10.6 per cent over the 1995-96 main estimates. The department's 1996-97 capital estimates proposes 31 per cent, or $10.3 million, for constructing new water and sanitation facilities to maintain a safe water supply and good public and environmental health.
About 19 per cent, or $6.1 million, is planned to construct arenas, community halls and gymnasiums, which are important to the quality of life and the social and leisure time activities of community residents.
A further 16 per cent, or $5.4 million, is identified for land development. Another 12 per cent, or $4.1 million, of the proposed capital estimates is planned for the construction of new firehalls, community offices, municipal parking and maintenance garages and warehouses.
These estimates also include capital carryovers of $3.2 million for 18 capital projects which, owing to construction or other delays, could not be spent in the 1995-96 fiscal year.
Mr. Chairman, the department is proposing operations and maintenance main estimates of $70.591 million for 1996-97. It is important to note that over 80 per cent of the department's budget is transferred to community governments or other organizations, or is spent on community infrastructure.
As the lead department for community empowerment, MACA will build on its partnerships with communities and other departments to increase local authority and control over programs and services.
Over the next few months, MACA will be talking with community leaders about opportunities for community empowerment. We are already working with several communities that have indicated an interest in taking on increased responsibilities.
MACA is also currently leading an interdepartmental effort to identify and eliminate legal, legislative, administrative and other barriers that stand in the way of community empowerment.
Mr. Chairman, community empowerment is what many communities have been requesting for many years. My Cabinet colleagues and I are determined to see that communities have equal opportunities to make this a reality.
In many communities, more training and support will be required as communities assume greater responsibilities. MACA will work with communities to identify these training needs and to ensure that they are met. MACA has identified $1.6 million for community training, which represents 34 per cent of the department's other operations and maintenance estimates. This amount does not include training for departmental staff.
Community planning is another important part of community empowerment. We need to bring all the groups together to plan for the future. MACA is working with all the other departments to ensure that developmental support and the resources and tools to support community planning will be in place.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments. I would be pleased to respond to any questions that the Members may have. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.