Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I would like to present the Report of the Standing Committee on Resource Management and Infrastructure Report on the 1999-2002 western business plans and Main Estimates. This is the report for the Department of the Executive.

The mandate of the Premier and the department is to provide overall management and direction to the Executive Branch for the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The Standing Committee on Resource Management and Infrastructure reviewed the 1999-2002 business plan for the Department of the Executive on November 19, 2000. The committee noted that there was understandably increased emphasis on the creation of two new Territories. There were also three significant changes in the department. The former Personnel Secretariat is now Corporate Human Resource Services, which develops and monitors government recruitment policy, the Affirmative Action Policy and other government-wide human resource policies. Secondly, the Official Languages Unit has been transferred to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Finally, a new task force comprised of outside consultants and a working group of officials under the direction of the secretary to Cabinet is developing an Economic Development Strategy. Since the business plan review, the development, coordination and administration of the Economic Development Strategy has been transferred to the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (RWED).

Throughout the committee's review of the department's draft 1999-2000 Main Estimates on March 25, 1999, Members identified key issues that continue to exact a significant demand on the department and the government. These issues include political uncertainty; the lack of employment opportunities, especially for our youth; the education of the current workforce to align with current employment requirements; and a high staff turnover. Committee Members expect these challenges to be ongoing for at least the short to mid-term.

The committee noted that projected operations and maintenance expenditures reported in the department's draft 1999-2000 Main Estimates declined by $33,000 or 0.40 per cent from their 1999-2002 business plan projections. Projected declines in the Commissioner's Office, Minister's Office and the Public Utilities Board were mostly offset by a $74,000 increase for the Cabinet Secretariat. Overall expenditures for the department remain essentially flat.

Northern Accord.

During the review of the department's 1999-2002 business plan, the Committee discussed the limited ability of the Government of the Northwest Territories to raise revenues. Committee Members agree that increased efforts must be made to retain a more equitable share of the fiscal return from anticipated economic growth, by obtaining a greater share of resource revenues. This would reduce our dependency on federal transfer payments.

Federal Positions.

During the business plan review, committee Members also discussed the proposed transfer or devolution of DIAND employees that deal directly with northern issues from Ottawa to the Northwest Territories. Members noted that the relocation would most likely result in staff complements that are more responsive, accountable and sensitive to their northern clientele.

The department replied that the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (DIAND) is currently assessing the potential for decentralization. DIAND has retained a consulting firm to look at this issue. Until the consultant's report is completed, there will be few opportunities to move this agenda forward.

Economic Development Strategy.

The Economic Development Strategy currently under development is expected to be a key strategy for the government in 1999 and beyond. However, committee Members continue to be concerned with the Strategy's costs to completion and other related costs. The Minister has agreed to provide the committee with details concerning the final cost of the Economic Development Strategy.

Youth Employment.

The Committee expressed its concern that current and projected economic growth will not keep pace with the need for new jobs. This is especially evident among our youth. Committee Members agreed that there is a need for a coordinated effort by departments in the development and implementation of the Northern Employment Strategy and other related youth employment initiatives, such as the "Better Future for Our Youth" strategy.

Affirmative Action.

The committee in review of the department's draft main estimates expressed concern that affirmative action may be successful at entry and mid-level positions, but may be less than satisfactory at the upper echelons. As a result, the committee requested that the department provide a quantifiable affirmative action status report for all departments for the last three fiscal years.

Human Resource Management.

In the review of the main estimates, committee members were concerned that the current practice of decentralized government human resource management may not be as cost-effective as the previous centralized human resource management approach. The department advised that there are cost savings from this decentralized delivery approach; however, committee members requested further reassurance. The department agreed to provide results that clearly indicate cost savings from the current adoption of the decentralized approach to committee members.

Madam Chairperson, that is the report on the Department of Executive Offices in the business plan review.