The mandate of the Department of Transportation is to provide safe, accessible and reliable movement of people and goods to serve the social, economic and political needs and aspirations of the people of the Northwest Territories.
The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development reviewed the 2000-2003 business plans and draft main estimates for the Department of Transportation on Wednesday, May 31, 2000. The committee noted a $2,942,000, or 4 percent decrease in total operations, or O and M expenditures between the 1999-2000 main estimates and the 2000-2001 draft main estimates. This projected decrease in O and M expenditures may be greater than it appears, as it may be offset by the transfer of capital assets valued under $50,000 from capital expenditures as required by the new tangible capital assets reporting process. The committee also noted a $9,334,000 or 30 percent decrease in total capital expenditures between the department's 1999-2000 main estimates and the 2000-2001 draft main estimates. Committee members also noted a decrease of six staff positions for an overall two percent decrease in the number of staff since the presentation of the 1999-2000 main estimates.
The committee's main concern is the government's ability to maintain and expand our transportation infrastructure despite continuing reductions in funding. Eventually the committee concluded public safety will be compromised. Access to resources and linkages between communities with southern markets require an extensive and well-maintained transportation system.
Furthermore, if any reductions in funding are to be made, they should be implemented equitably across the board. This recommendation was also made in the committee's review of the 2000-2001 interim appropriations, which stated that if any funding cuts are considered in any programs or services within government, they should be made equally across the board.