Thank you, Madam Chair. On behalf of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, it is my pleasure to provide our report on our review of the Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1997-98. The committee met with the Minister on Tuesday, October 14, 1997 to review the proposed bill. The committee's review of the appropriation focused on five major areas:
1. Funding transferred between the departments or within departmental budgets, the majority to be attributed to the user pay/user say initiative.
2. Monies for capital projects that had lapsed in the 1996/97, fiscal year and were carried over to the 1997-98 fiscal year.
3. Funding for collective bargaining and pay equity issue.
4. Funding for government contributions to the Western Harvesters Assistance Program; and finally,
5. Funds identified to replace facilities damaged by fire while awaiting the settlement of insurance claims.
Some concerns were raised by Members of the committee about funding for the Government of Northwest Territories' Communications Strategy and the $1.5 million to be spent in an attempt to resolve the pay equity issue. Members were also concerned that the Minister and his staff monitor the federal contributions to offset the cost of the runway extension at Deline and for the operation and maintenance of the forward operating location in Rankin Inlet to ensure full recovery of the funding expended on these programs.
The committee was generally satisfied with the explanations provided by the Minister when he was questioned. Any additional questions on supplementary appropriations that the Members may have will be addressed by the individual Members. Madam Chair, this concludes the Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 25, Supplementary Appropriation, No. 2, 1997-98. Thank you.