Thank you. I am informed by the clerk that at this point in time there is no question and answer session. We are speaking directly to the motion. Part of the rules, I am told. To the motion. Mr. Todd.
Debates of Oct. 24th, 1997
Topics
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
The Chair John Ningark
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Frankly, I think I am in a whirlwind right now. There are processes in place and many of my colleagues use it when they feel the Cabinet has circumvented. Frankly, I am a little disappointed in the 11th hour that Mr. Ootes has come forward with this. Has not had the common decency to at least discuss it with me and show it to me. We spent three or four meetings trying to reach an appropriate arrangement. That is what politics and consensus are all about. I have asked my colleagues not to support this amendment given that it is coming at the 11th hour. I appreciate the comments of those Members of the committee that worked very hard with me in which Mr. Ootes attended those committee meetings. I thought that we had a consensus on this issue. We will not be supporting the amendment. Thank you.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. I have probably spoken too soon when I said it was a done deal. I have Mr. Krutko. To the motion.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be supporting the motion. The point made is that we do need the time to assess. We are not talking peanuts here. We are talking projects over $500,000. The way budgets and supps have been passed, half the time we are caught sleeping at the wheel. The time allotted for us to review any of these proposals and whatnot, that we have the adequate time to do it. Yes, I did not take part in these committee meetings, but yes, I believe that Mr. Ootes has a point. I think the public should be made aware. We are talking projects that range from $600,000 or $501,000 up to $10 million. It is not peanuts. We are talking major dollars here. I think we have to be accountable to the public and the public purse that these projects we are talking about are going to be major. We should take the adequate time to ensure that we do an adequate review of those proposals when they come forth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. To the motion. The mover of the motion, Mr. Ootes.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
October 23rd, 1997
Page 193
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Minister is absolutely correct that there were a lot of meetings on this, but sometimes we cannot attend all of the meetings and I was not there for the final meeting. While consensus can be achieved with those there, I feel that sometimes if a person cannot be there and a person sees that it can be improved upon, I think it behooves that individual to bring that forward. I see some benefit to changing it from 14 to 30 days because there are periods in the year when people may be away or have difficulties dealing with the issue. I feel that it is a good change, Mr. Chairman. I want to proceed with it. Thank you.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Members of the committee, are you ready for vote? All those in favour? Against the motion? Abstaining? The motion is defeated. Clause two of Bill 3. Agreed? Mr. Roland.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe just for some clarification on this clause. What is it intended to do with the 14 days? Is it extended on the approval process over and above what is there or is this strictly from the day Cabinet looks at a proposal, 14 days to a Member being notified? Thank you.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
The Chair John Ningark
Mr. Minister.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
John Todd Keewatin Central
I will ask Mr. Voytilla, who is much more familiar with the detail of the bill. I am at a loss as to what we are trying to accomplish. To ensure that everybody gets the right answer, I will yield to Mr. Voytilla.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
The Chair John Ningark
Mr. Voytilla.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
Voytilla
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to endorse Mr. Todd's compliments in me by asking Mr. Roland to repeat the question.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 193
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Roland, would you please repeat the question?
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The 14 days that is in this clause, is that the total amount of time from the conception of the plan being accepted by Cabinet and for the committees or the Members to be notified of them or is there a further approval process of the projects that would come forward? Thank you.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Voytilla.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
Voytilla
Mr. Chairman, we would expect that a proposal coming into the Financial Management Board would be subjected to rigorous analysis and assessment. There would then be a preliminary report made to the Financial Management Board to see if they were prepared to consider the project at which point in time the project would be communicated to the Members through the clerk's office. Fourteen days is the minimum that would have to elapse before the Financial Management Board could meet again to make a final determination on the project.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. To clause two. Mr. Roland.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For a little further clarification, is it 14 days from what period? From the clerk's office sending out notification or 14 days after Cabinet has said this is a worthwhile project and moving forward? Thank you.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Through the honourable Minister, I will ask Mr. Voytilla to explain.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
Voytilla
Mr. Chairman, it would be 14 days from the time the clerk received the formal notice. The clerk would have the document and 14 days would elapse from that time to give him time to get it out to Members and for Members to raise concerns or ask questions before the Financial Management Board can make a decision. It will be 14 days that the clerk will have it.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Roland.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe this is not the appropriate time, but after the 14 days, if there is a response from the Member with concerns to the project, what would the process be? Thank you.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Again, through the honourable Minister, I will ask Mr. Voytilla to respond.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
Voytilla
Mr. Chairman, once a concern was raised by a Member, if you ask for information, it will be provided. If you had other concerns, then, Mr. Todd, in his capacity as chairman of the board, would approach the Member or the committee to deal with the issue.
Committee Motion 3-13(5): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 3, An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 194
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. I believe Mr. Roland is indicating that he is satisfied for the time being with the answer. I have Mr. Henry and Mr. Krutko. Mr. Henry. Clause two.