Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the Department of Finance's interim appropriation to the committee. The Department of Finance is requesting funding to operate through the first four months of fiscal year 2000-2001 until the main estimates are prepared and presented for approval.
The department is requesting approval for $1,190,000 for normal salary and normal operating expenses, or approximately one-third of the annual amount of these expenses. In addition, the department requires $271,000 to fund the salaries and wages of the liquor commission that are paid from commission profits, but use the Government of the Northwest Territories pay system. This funding is only required until the annual Liquor Commission main estimates are loaded into the payroll system. At that time, this appropriation will be removed.
Also requested is $571,000 for the estimated interest costs of borrowing to meet the government's short-term requirements during the period covered by the interim appropriation. The government's insurance policies require that premiums be paid in full on April 1st each year. Therefore, the interim appropriation includes $2,231,000 for the premiums.
The final item included in the interim appropriation request by the Department of Finance is $56,000 for the four-month additional costs of the federal government's changes to the Public Service Superannuation Act. These requirements add up to $4,319,000.
The Department of Finance has no capital budget, so it is requesting no capital funding as part of the interim appropriation.
Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to respond to any questions the committee may have. Thank you.