Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Infrastructure is pleased to present its Review of the Report of the Auditor General on the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. The 13th Assembly's committee structure enables the Standing Committee on Infrastructure to consider the Auditor General's comments and recommendations in conjunction with other relevant issues that have been examined by the committee. The Legislative Assembly requested the Auditor General, on October 8, 1996, to conduct an independent review of how the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs assesses and determines the financial health of the communities through municipal reporting processes. The Auditor General's report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on February 18, 1998 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Infrastructure for review. The standing committee met to discuss the Auditor General's report from Monday, April 20, 1998, to Wednesday, April 22, 1998. The deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and her staff appeared as witnesses before the committee and took the opportunity to present additional responses to the Auditor General's Report.

Mr. Speaker, the committee also received a briefing from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs on April 22, 1998 on monitoring and evaluating for community development responses. This initiative is intended to ensure that the community development is goal oriented and client focused, states expected results, commits to high quality programs and services, specifically measures performance and allocates limited resources according to priority.

Members of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure appreciate the cooperation of the deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and her staff in appearing before the committee, responding to the Members' request for information and providing their perspective on the issues being considered. Committee Members carefully considered all information provided. Finally, the committee Members appreciate the helpful participation of the principal Auditor and staff from the Edmonton office of the Auditor General for Canada.

The objective of the office of the Auditor General of Canada was to conduct an independent review of how the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs assesses and determines the financial health of communities through financial reporting and other processes.

In addition, the office of the Auditor General had three subobjectives:

- to acquire sufficient understanding and information to enable the office of the Auditor General to identify significant issues and management activities pertaining to municipal financing,

- to inform the Members of the Legislative Assembly and others about current and potential issues in municipalities that have financial and accountability issues and

- to provide comments and observations on municipal management from both the local and the departmental side.

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the introductory comments on Committee Report 8-13(5), Report of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure on its Review of the Report of the Auditor General on the Department of Municipal and Community affairs. I would seek unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker, to wave rule 93(4), and have the report ordered into the Committee of the Whole for today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.