Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to present the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on the review of the 1998-99 main estimates.
The primary focus of the Standing Committee on Government Operations is to review issues that have territorial-wide implications. It is also charged with examining the budgets and financial management of boards and agencies that are outside the responsibility of any other standing committee. As a part of this mandate, the standing committee reviewed the main estimates for the Office of the Legislative Assembly. The Standing Committee on Government Operations has always appreciated the high level of cooperation we have received from the Speaker and his staff in reviewing the main estimates and are confident that this cooperation will continue.
The committee also recognizes the long hours and considerable work involved in preparing the material required for the main estimates review process and extends its thanks to all involved, particularly the staff at the Financial Management Board Secretariat.
The committee will provide specific comments in relation to the main estimates for the Legislative Assembly at the appropriate time in the committee of the whole.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations also considered items referred from other standing committees of the Legislative Assembly and reviewed issues with government-wide implications.
The issue of human resource administration costs was identified by other committees and referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations. The concern is that there have been no savings realized by the government as a result of the dismantling of the Department of Personnel. The committee is of the opinion that the departments have been forced to take on the human resource function without an adequate level of funding from the government and that because of this shortfall in funding, the departments have been required to use program delivery dollars to deal with the increased burden.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time in committee of the whole we will be moving the following motion:
The committee recommends that an analysis of the transfer of human resource administration functions to the departments from the Department of Personnel be undertaken to quantify the net results in terms of expenditures and efficiency. This analysis should include the following:
1. A comparison of the funding required by all departments to administer the human resource function in relation to the funding previously required to operate the Department of Personnel;
2. A list of the responsibilities that were transferred to the Financial Management Board Secretariat from the Department of Personnel;
3. An analysis of the additional funds now being spent by boards and agencies as a result of this change in service delivery;
4. Information as to the present number of employees by department and region required for the human resource function compared to the numbers previously employed by the Department of Personnel. This should include employees at the board and agency level.
Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Government Operations also wishes to comment on the capital spending priorities of this government. Committee Members received briefings from the Minister regarding the Public/Private Partnerships initiative and, if the initiative is implemented, the committee looks forward to working with the government further and reviewing proposed projects.
The committee wishes to restate its position on capital spending priorities. During its review of the 1997-98 capital estimates and business plans, the committee indicated that it would be supportive of capital projects which are essential to serve the basic needs of the communities. This would include projects such as school, hospitals and health centres, housing, basic water/sewer and primary transportation links such as main roads and wharves necessary for supplies.
The committee's position has not changed. Any proposed project will have to serve the basic needs of a community as outlined above and should be subject to review and meaningful consultation by Members. Projects that do not meet these criteria will not merit serious consideration by Members of this committee.
The committee discussed the Keewatin Infrastructure Transfer Proposal and Members have serious concerns about its implementation. Committee members feel that this proposal to transfer capital funding and associated operations and maintenance funding to the Keewatin Mayors Group essentially moves toward creating another level of government. Some of the committee's questions, such as the amount of consultation done with stakeholders like Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Interim Commissioner's office, remain unanswered. The committee's major concern is that this initiative, which is a profound change to the way the GNWT conducts its business, is being proposed far too close to the time of division. There are too many other issues before this government without bringing new and potentially disruptive issues to the table. The committee recommends that this proposal be postponed until after division.
Mr. Speaker, this concludes the introductory comments of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on our review of the 1998-99 main estimates.
Therefore I move, second by the honourable Member for Kivallivik, that the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on the review of the 1998-99 main estimates be received by the Assembly and moved into committee of the whole.