Thank you, Mr. Handley. There is no committee report. Would the Minister like to bring in any witnesses?
Debates of March 30th, 2000
This is page numbers 425 - 456 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.
Topics
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you, Mr. Handley. Would the Sergeant-at-Arms escort the witnesses in please?
Mr. Handley, can you please introduce the witness?
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Joe Handley Weledeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my right is Lew Voytilla, secretary to the Financial Management Board. Thank you.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Are there any comments on the Bill by Members? Mr. Roland.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, on initial review of this interim appropriation, there was a concern that so early in the life of our government we are coming in for a supplementary for the first portion of our Assembly.
Since January 19th to this date, we are requesting a total of $3.7 million. We have heard the Minister in committee raise the issues of where these expenditures would go and why they were needed.
As I looked at the numbers upon my initial review, I saw an area that caused me to look at the interim appropriation and do a comparison. I saw the numbers being very similar those under Executive Office, Minister's offices and Cabinet Secretariat. There were very similar reasons for the supplementary appropriation as well as the interim appropriation and the same figures in that area. It leads me to question why there is such a similarity?
The interim appropriation is meant to carry us until July. This interim appropriation is for the period from January 19th until the 31st of March. Mr. Chairman, I would like some clarification on that area. Thank you.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Handley.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Joe Handley Weledeh
Mr. Chairman, I am going to ask Lew Voytilla just to explain the details and numbers. Thank you.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Voytilla.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Voytilla
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The fact that the total amounts may be similar between the supplementary and the interim may be more coincidence than anything else, although they do cover some of the same areas.
The amounts in the supplementary are based on one third of the operating requirements for the full year. Since the committee review, we have reviewed those to verify that. Thank you.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Mr. Roland.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just for clarification, I did not get the portion. I know the interim appropriation is one third of the budget, but the supplementary is for just over two months. So we are talking about a difference of two months, and they are very close. I did not quite get the rest of the detail. Will Mr. Voytilla or Mr. Handley clarify?
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 448
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
Voytilla
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To provide the detail for the Member, speaking specifically to Minister's offices, which I think is the area where we are looking at salaries, the supplementary is to fund an additional Minister, executive assistant and executive secretary for the three-month period. The amount required for those salaries would be $34,500.
For other operations and maintenance, operational requirements and for the initial purchase of equipment for the additional Minister's office, the amount is $26,000 for the period, of which $20,000 is equipment and other one-time expenditures.
In addition, there is provision in there for home travel for the three-month period and accommodation for a total change of $76,500. That is pertaining to the first item in the supplementary with respect to adding a new Minister.
Then there is a requirement in there for $75,000, which is related to an additional executive assistant and secretary. Again, that is broken down as part-year funding, which totals $75,000.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you, Mr. Voytilla. Mr. Roland.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. He has broken it down into a bit of detail. Something that caught my ear was $20,000 for equipment. Can they be more specific? What equipment are they referring to for Minister's offices? Thank you.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Mr. Voytilla.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
Voytilla
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do not have a detailed listing with me, but based on the information and the normal setup for an office, I believe that would be a computer, a fax machine; it would be general office equipment. We could certainly supply the Member with a list, but it totals $20,000.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Twenty thousand dollars for equipment, and it sounds like computer and faxes. It must be one heck of a computer system for $20,000. Maybe it has something to do with PeopleSoft. I would like to see what kind of computer system this is. I have just recently purchased one at home for my family, and it was nowhere close to this. A list of the items would definitely be appreciated.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Mr. Handley.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Roland.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We just passed the interim appropriation. We just had the Legislative Assembly up for review. I found it interesting. For the addition in Members from 14 to 19, for a whole year with some re-allocations internally, came up to $590,000. I found that rather interesting. It is approximately $115,000 per Member for a year.
I find that quite striking when we do a comparison to Ministers' offices and their growth. Maybe the Finance Minister can give us information as to the costs on a yearly basis for a new Minister, all-inclusive from top to bottom? Thank you.
Committee Motion 4-14(2): To Amend The Schedule To Bill 6: Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 449
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Mr. Handley.