This is page numbers 401 - 434 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, under the auditing function of the FMBS, the role is to audit, I guess, all government departments. With the layoff of these two individuals is it with the new community empowerment strategy taking place? Does the Minister think there will be more demand on the services of his staff?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

John Todd Keewatin Central

Mr. Chairman, it is an important point that we do not audit municipalities, that responsibility lies, I believe with Ms. Thompson's area of responsibilities. We do not audit those with community empowerment. I believe that Ms. Thompson will be able to demonstrate that she has the resources necessary to meet the new demands that are going to be placed on community empowerment in her department. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Picco

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the total Directorate, what were the number of reductions?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Mr. Todd.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

John Todd Keewatin Central

It was 33 reductions in the whole department.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Picco.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 33 reductions for staff this 97/98, or for 95/96, or a combination 95/96, 97/98?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Mr. Todd

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The 33 PYs I was talking about were for 1997. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Picco.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am trying to figure out what the loss is to the Directorate employees. I guess, my question would be, what percentage of that would be employees of the Directorate?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Mr. Todd.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That would be five positions of the Secretariat. Is that what you are talking about? Yes, five PYs.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Picco.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Out of the total of Financial Management Board Secretariat, there were 33 job reductions, five out of the Directorate itself, is that correct?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Mr. Todd.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

John Todd Keewatin Central

That is correct, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Picco.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, my concern here is with the government moving toward strategies of downsizing and reductions, some of the positions within the Financial Management Board Secretariat, like the office of the regional and area superintendents and the auditing and budgeting evaluation coordination services, human resources, so on and so forth, are very important. I am just wondering, with this reduction of 33 positions in total in FMBS, are they hard pressed now?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Mr. Todd.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I always believe in leading by example. I believe we have led in this issue. I want to assure my colleague that the new decentralized delegated approach under this ministry, that our staff are capable of handling the responsibilities they have before them and our layoffs were done in a caring and concerned way. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Todd, for a short space, the mike was off on my side. Do you want to repeat what you said?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 423

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I said, fundamentally, you have to lead by example. I believe in our overall budgetary targets, the FMBS has demonstrated that it is prepared to make its commitment to a balanced budget which we have done. The staff that are left, who are hard working and who I have a great deal of respect for, are capable of handling their responsibilities because we have moved aggressively to push some of the responsibility out to where it belongs, to those managers that should have the authority and the responsibility, and that has enabled us to make those kind of dramatic changes that we have made within the organization. It was all part and parcel of our overall plan to put responsibility where it belongs and to downsize the FMBS and frankly, reduce its centralist authority. Thank you.