Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. O'Brien on February 11th, commitment authority of deputy ministers. In response to Mr. O'Brien's question with regard to a limit on the amount of dollars that a deputy minister can commit for a lease or lease renewal, the answer is that there is not an exact amount stipulated in the Financial Administration Act. Under the Financial Administration Act, a Minister may delegate expenditure or contract authority to a deputy minister or public officer. In delegating the authority, monetary limits and conditions to meet the business needs of the positions apply, not a standard number applied to all individuals who hold a comparable level of authority in government. In order for individuals to make decisions on expenditures, they must have been delegated authority to do so.
For a deputy minister or other employee to exercise expenditure authority, it must be specifically delegated. Having been delegated authority, individuals are held responsible and accountable in the completion of their duties under the legislation and guidelines of the Government of the Northwest Territories.
The government has guidelines that outline provisions for the designation of officers and the delegation and application of signing authority. Financial Administration Directive 802-1, containing these guidelines was tabled in this House on February 11, 1998. Thank you.