Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the decision by Cabinet and FMB is to give full signing authority to the deputy ministers so they could do their work of managing their department and they make good business deals for this government. This is a way of streamlining government and providing good service. This was done about two years ago, this change, to give full authority to the deputy ministers within their departments subject to the Financial Administration Act. Thank you.
Debates of Feb. 13th, 1998
Topics
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 798
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
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 798
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 798
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The reason for the Financial Administration Act is because of the deficit situation we found ourselves in and not to end up back in that position. I would like to ask the Minister, or deputy minister, how much is your signing authority for expenditures? Could you give us a cash amount?
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 798
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 798
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the deputy ministers have been given full signing authority to run their departments. They are managers and we have to let the managers manage their departments. Last year, the total expenditure for this department was $62.029 million and this year, in the main estimates we are proposing, $61.352 million. This is the limit of this whole department. According to the Financial Administration Act, and subject to the provisions in there, this is the authority a deputy minister has in the case of each one of the departments of this government. We are looking at salaries, wages, grants and contributions, other operations and maintenance, buildings and works, equipment acquisition and contributions. These are the activities in each department and there is a certain amount in each department delegated to those authorities. These are the conditions placed on the deputy ministers. 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 798
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Antoine, the question was, is there a $500,000 limit under the Financial Administration Act that applies to the deputy minister. That was the question.
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 798
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Mr. Chairman, there is no $500,000 limit the honourable Member is talking about. There may have been in the past, but as of about two years ago, the deputy ministers were given full authority for the total budget of their 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 798
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 798
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe we addressed the Financial Administration Act last fall. I have a section here. This is the appropriate section. Guarantee or indemnity on behalf of the government, the Commissioner, on the recommendation of the board and on behalf of the government may in a fiscal year, make an indemnity where the maximum liability under the indemnity does not exceed $500,000. Where do they get the authority to do this?
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 798
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Ootes. I am advised your question is not appropriate to this directorate. Do you want to have another try at it?
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 798
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Let me ask the question, what is the limit that a deputy minister can sign for in this fiscal year, without checking with Cabinet?
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 798
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Antoine, I will allow you to respond and then I will have to recognize the clock.
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 798
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, again, the deputy minister has the full authority to expend the budget in this department according to the Financial Administration Act. However, there are some sections within the department where the Cabinet has to seek approval if we are negotiating leases or in contract areas. Overall, the deputy minister has the full authority to expend the budget that is in his 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 798
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Antoine. I recognize the clock and I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee. I will now rise and report progress.
--Break
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 798
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The House will come back to order. Good afternoon. Item 20, report of committee of the whole. Mr. Steen.
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Page 798
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 8, Appropriation Act, 1998-99 and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of committee of the whole be concurred with.
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Page 798
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Seconded by Mr. Miltenberger. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. We did not have a quorum to vote on the report of committee of the whole. The Chair recognizes a quorum. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Item 21, third reading of bills. Item 22, orders of the day. Mr. Clerk.
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Page 798
Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton
Mr. Speaker, there is a meeting on Monday, 9:00 a.m. of the Ordinary Members' Caucus.
Orders of the day for Monday, February 16, 1998:
1. Prayer
2. Ministers' Statements
3. Members' Statements
4. Returns to Oral Questions
5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
6. Oral Questions
7. Written Questions
8. Returns to Written Questions
9. Replies to Opening Address
10. Petitions
11. Reports of Standing and Special Committees
12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
13. Tabling of Documents
14. Notices of Motion
15. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills
16. Motions
17. First Reading of Bills
- Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act, No. 2
- Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act
- Bill 9, Loan Authorization Act, 1998-99
- Bill 11, Supplementary Appropriation Act, Number 3, 1997-98
18. Second Reading of Bills
19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
- Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
- Bill 8, Appropriation Act, 1998-99
- Committee Report 02-13(5) Standing Committee on Government Operations, Report on the 1998-99 Main Estimates
- Committee Report 03-13(5) Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Report on the 1998-99 Main Estimates
- Committee Report 04-13(5) Standing Committee on Resource Management and Development, Report on the 1998-99 Main Estimates
- Committee Report 05-13(5) Standing Committee on Social Programs, Report on the 1998-99 Main Estimates
- Tabled Document 15-13(5) 1998-99 Budget Address
- Tabled Document 19-13(5) Guidelines for Implementing Public/Private Partnerships
20. Report of Committee of the Whole
21. Third Reading of Bills
22. Orders of the Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Page 799
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. By the authority given the Speaker by motion 3-13(5), I order that the sitting hours be set on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. until February 27, 1998. All other sitting hours stand as established by the rules. This House stands adjourned to Monday, February 16 at 10:00 a.m.
--ADJOURNMENT