Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I could assure the Member the $5 million they had identified that is not in here, is included in the $42 million accumulated deficit. We have already factored it in to that deficit. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. General comments? If there are no other general comments, what is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Mr. Chairman, if there are no further general comments, I would recommend that we move on to consider the Executive portion of the interim supply bill.

Does the committee concur?

I would like to thank the Minister and his witness. Thank you, Mr. Handley.

The Minister responsible for the Executive, the Honourable Mr. Kakfwi. Do you have any opening comments?

Yes, Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to use this opportunity to provide committee members with a brief overview of the functional units within the Department of the Executive.

The department, sometimes known as the Cabinet Office, is a pivotal point in the Government of the Northwest Territories, ensuring that Cabinet has the advice and support required to carry out its mandate. It is also charged with ensuring that action is taken on decisions made by Cabinet. The Executive plays a similar role in the North as the Privy Council Office plays in Ottawa for the federal government.

The Department of the Executive is managed by the deputy minister, Ms. Elizabeth Snider, who also serves as secretary to Cabinet and deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

The Department consists of the Office of the Commissioner, Minister's offices including that of the Premier, and divisions and secretariats established to support Cabinet.

The deputy minister of the Executive is the most senior public servant in the Government of the Northwest Territories and is charged not only with managing the department, but also with leading the public service. Ms. Snider provides overall management and direction to the public service and ensures government-wide coordination of Cabinet direction.

The Department of Executive also provides support for the Office of the Commissioner, also for Ministers' offices, which include staff employed to assist Ministers and the Premier in carrying out their duties.

The Department of the Executive has a number of functions, the central ones being to support the Executive Council.

The Cabinet Secretariat provides broad policy advice on priorities, strategies, policies and legislation to the Premier, Cabinet and its committees, as well as general support for Cabinet meetings. The secretariat also transmits Cabinet decisions to the public service.

Legislation and House planning provides advice and support to Cabinet, departments and government agencies with respect to the development of legislation

The regional and community affairs division has been established to assist the Government of the Northwest Territories in communicating government-wide agendas, goals, strategies and initiatives to communities, the public, to regional staff and to employees in Yellowknife. Enhanced communications within and between regions is an objective, as is improved communications between regions and headquarters operations.

The Department of the Executive is also home to a number of functions which have responsibility for broad policy issues that span the range of departmental mandates.

Intergovernmental Affairs assists in the preparation of strategies to address territorial, national and international issues which affect the Northwest Territories. Intergovernmental Affairs also establishes, maintains and coordinates official contacts between the Government of the Northwest Territories and federal, provincial, Nunavut, Yukon and circumpolar governments, and non-government organizations.

Corporate human resources services develops and monitors government recruitment policy, the Affirmative Action Policy, and other government-wide human resource policies. It provides specialist training and advice to government departments, boards and agencies on human resource planning and staff development. It also monitors and provides advice on communications with employees and staff morale.

The Department of Executive is, from time to time, used to house special task groups, secretariats, or support working committees charged with starting or steering special projects.

For example, the Government of the Northwest Territories, aboriginal governments and the Government of Canada have agreed to participate in an intergovernmental forum to look at the future agenda for the Northwest Territories. This is a first, is important for the people of the North, and has been given high priority by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The Intergovernmental Forum Secretariat has been established to co-ordinate this important initiative for the government.

The Regulatory Reform Secretariat is charged with a broad-based review of the way government departments and agencies are carrying out regulatory responsibilities. The objective is to reduce government processes and eliminate "red tape" that create unnecessary barriers to economic growth and business profitability. The department provides support to the Secretariat.

The Department of Executive also provides support for the Public Utilities Board of the Northwest Territories. The Public Utilities Board is an independent board that regulates the energy utilities under its jurisdiction and reporting to the Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board.

The Women's Advisory Program, which supports the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, supports and provides liaison with the Status of Women Council, the Native Women's Association and other organizations which enhance the participation of women in society.

The corporate services division provides financial, administrative and human resources support to the Department of the Executive, the Financial Management Board Secretariat, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, the Women's Advisory, the Regulatory Reform Secretariat and the Public Utilities Board.

In conclusion, it is evident that the department has a broad range of responsibilities. Some are new and have been established to meet new needs or to enhance activities already being undertaken by the department.

You have before you the interim financial requirements of the department. I am now prepared to entertain any questions you might have. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time, I would like to ask the committee responsible for this department, the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development, to present its report. Mr. Roland.

The Standing Committee for Governance and Economic Development reviewed the Department of the Executive. The committee met with the Premier and his staff on March 17, 2000, to review the proposed 2000-2001 interim appropriation for the department. The committee made note of the following issues:

Corporate Human Resources Services

Corporate human resources develops and monitors the government's recruitment policy and affirmative action and other government-wide human resource policies. The committee was concerned that the government does not reflect the population of the Northwest Territories at the management and headquarter levels.

• • The Premier suggested that affirmative action could be a topic of a full Caucus retreat.
• • Further, the Premier agreed to provide the latest affirmative action statistics for the government.

The regional and community affairs division has been established to assist the Government of the Northwest Territories in communicating government wide agendas, goals, strategies and initiatives to communities, the public, regional staff and headquarters employees.

The Premier elaborated that it was important to recognize where the regions are heading and that there must be recognition of self-government agreements.

• • The committee would like to be apprised of the mandate of the regional and community affairs division and other developments related to this initiative.
• • The committee also agreed to send a letter to the Premier confirming its attendance in a "think tank" session in regard to this division.

Proposed Increase in Positions

Committee members noted that $332,000 in additional proposed funding directed towards the Cabinet Secretariat and Ministers' offices activities. The government had explained that in its interim appropriation submission that a significant portion is designated for additional positions.

The committee was concerned that given our current fiscal situation, the proposed addition of more positions to the department may be inappropriate.

• • The Premier, at the request of the committee, agreed to provide an inventory of positions and describe their respective roles within the department.
• • The Premier also agreed to provide salary information on the necessary operations and maintenance for each of the cabinet secretariat's positions, current and proposed.

Mr. Chairman, that is the report on the Department of the Executive by the committee.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. At this time, I would like to ask the Minster if he would like to call in his witnesses.

Yes.

Does the committee agree?

Can the Sergeant-at-Arms escort the witnesses in? Just for the Members, we are dealing with the red binder on tab 6, page 4, the Executive.

Would the Minster please introduce his witnesses for the record.

Thank you. I have with me today on my left, the deputy minister of the Executive, Liz Snider, and on my right, the director of corporate services, Carl Bird.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time, I would like to ask if there are any general comments or questions from the Members. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have some brief general comments. In regard to the Executive's budget, we have all heard the discussion about the debt wall. Even though things are optimistic, there is a need to show prudence and restraint. The expectation would be that the Executive would lead by example.

But what we have here is a budget that, according to the calculations I have seen, is 18 percent forced growth. They are layering on, more than doubling the staff palace guard around the Premier at a time when our jurisdiction has shrunk almost 40 percent from division.

Cabinet has shrunk by one at a time when we tell people there is no money for adult education, that there has been no increase in student financial assistance since 1992, that the food basket used for income support has not been increased for many years. There is inadequate housing, health costs...and yet we have the Executive coming forward with this very luxurious budget and what appears to be to me for a relatively new Cabinet, some very expensive habits that far exceed the necessary size.

I am also concerned about the comments I hear periodically about using Caucus discussions to justify some expenditures that we have no say over.

In regard to the actual positions, they make the case of telling us they have gone from 72 before division to 70 now, which to me is miniscule and probably unsubstantial in relation to the loss of jurisdiction and the shrinkage in government. The only thing that has not shrunk is headquarters. I can tell you the services in regions and communities have shrunk quite significantly, but not in headquarters.

There have been concerns with the affirmative action program for a long time. In the 13th Assembly, committees did the work. There are a lot of recommendations and considerations just sitting on the shelf. The offer now for the Premier to do another retreat to talk about things is appreciated, but the reality is that this is a program that has been with us for a long time. It has a lot of shortcomings. My hope would be that the Premier would be instructing his staff not to just remain with the status quo, but to take the steps to start dealing with that.

I also have significant concerns about this regional community affairs division with its yet undefined mandate, which to me shows full potential of becoming a significant decision making forum that could possibly undermine or circumvent community and regional decision making.

The other area of concern is the Regulatory Reform Secretariat, that started with much pomp and circumstance a number of years ago to thin out the red tape, to give us efficiency and regulatory reform. It contains all of the books, but as far as I have seen, has yet to show any product, is long on process and has no real outcomes.

I would hope the Premier would be casting his attention to that as we talk about regulatory reform. One of the main concerns that drives investors away is that things are too cumbersome and are unclear on how to deal with.

Mr. Chairman, when I look at the battles we are facing in our communities, when I look at the battles we are facing to maintain programs and services and I see a budget that comes with 18 percent forced growth, I must say I am deeply disappointed. I am not happy having to stand up in this House and go after the government for money for adult education, to put money into the food baskets of the people on income support, the needy, or the homeless. When we tell them there is no money, what we see is an amoebae-like growth, and the Executive demands to increase their already palatial circumstances. To me, Mr. Chairman, we are not sending the right message that the focus should be on the people and needs of the people. We should be demonstrating that we can live within our resources and provide the service without these kinds of excessive demands. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Minister responsible for the Department of the Executive, Mr. Kakfwi.

I would like to thank the Member for his comments. Thank you.

I think we should ask for some process. The process we were using with the previous Minister was that Members had the opportunity to make comments, and then they were to direct questions to the Minister, with a response back from the Minister. That was the process we were using, Mr. Kakfwi. So if that is the process that we are going to use, I would like to continue on with that process.