Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Rattray.
Debates of July 6th, 2000
This is page numbers 533 - 596 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd 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
Records Management
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 561
Records Management
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 561
Rattray
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there were two major components to that. The first was we were requested, as all departments were, to achieve certain savings in budgets last year. What we did in order to facilitate that was reduce budgets in the various other categories, consolidate them into the directorate, then lapsed that money at the end of the year. That was approximately $450,000 to $500,000 that was included there.
One other area was we have been attempting to deal with revised charge-back structures as well. What we have done, the charge-back for communication services, rather than prorating that amongst all the different department activities, we consolidated that into the directorate activity. We were charging it out of there for the last year.
Records Management
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 561
Records Management
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 561
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So if I understand that right, we should at some point be seeing a supplementary appropriation for a negative $450,000 or $500,000 on the lapsed funds? Is that the process we will eventually see for 1999-2000?
Records Management
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 561
Records Management
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 561
Rattray
Mr. Chairman, I do not believe a supplementary appropriation is required on that. I believe it was simply lapsed at the end of the year. It was not expended.
Records Management
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 561
The Chair Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Rattray. Directorate, operations expense, total operations expense, $5,945,000. Mr. Roland.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
July 5th, 2000
Page 562
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a motion. Mr. Chairman,
I MOVE that this committee recommends that the Department of Public Works and Services implement a revised overall government-wide records management plan that all government departments can adhere to and incorporate by March 2001. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
The Chair Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The motion has been distributed. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
We are on page 5-9, directorate operations expense, total operations expense, $5,945,000.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
The Chair Paul Delorey
We are on to page 5-11, asset management, operations expense, total operations expense, $32,025,000. Mr. Miltenberger.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have one question for the Minister, in regard to the issue that was discussed earlier by myself and Mr. Roland, in relation to the construction process and cost overruns and recognizing the fact that there are a number of players at the table. While not wanting to recognize Public Works and Services as the sole whipping boy in this, is there any plan to look at the process so that it is tighter, so that there is less chance of cost overruns? That commitments are not made at the community level that headquarters does not know about? Ways to try to better integrate the various pieces so that it is a more efficient, effective, and economical process? Thank you.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, for the Member's information, we have been working on a process here where we can address the specific issue that the Member has brought up, and just to make matters short, I could ask Mr. Rattray to respond to that question. Thank you.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
Rattray
Mr. Chairman, the department has been looking at this issue quite seriously over the last year and, partly, in response to some of the discussions we had with the Member in his former portfolio of Education, Culture and Employment. That department is one of our larger clients and a number of those projects were of significant concern to us.
The discussions with the department have gone very well. We have restructured our working relationship with them. We have consolidated some of the program financial management components within our own operation and provided a direct link back to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. That exercise seems to be working quite well. We have looked at a number of other areas where we expect that we can make some improvements in operations. Some of that relates to the front-end planning on the projects to ensure that we are involved in an early stage and developing project budgets, to ensure that we have a clear idea of the scope of work of the project early on and can provide some feedback on how the budget should be established. We have also been able to discuss with the department the potential for including effective planning years in the project schedule so that some preliminary work can be done on a more timely basis.
There is a significant amount of evaluation and assessment work that is required at the front-end of a project to thoroughly establish what the scope and the project budget should be, and providing some additional time at the front-end in the planning cycle will assist there.
I believe we have improved the working relationship with the regional project staff as well and tied them more tightly into the headquarters planning functions that Education, Culture and Employment has provided.
Some of those same types of activities that we are doing with Education, Culture and Employment will carry over into our relations with other departments as well.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
The Chair Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Rattray. Asset management, operations expense, total operations expense, $32,025,000. Mr. Krutko.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regard to contracting services that this government is in, getting back to the matter that I raised earlier, about the field contract that went out to build two tanks in Fort McPherson.
The reason that was given was because they did not fill out the particular application to fall within the Manufacturers' Directive. Could the Minister state exactly how long does it take to fill out an application and have it processed to receive your certification?
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am sure I do not know. I will ask the deputy if he might know.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
Rattray
Mr. Chairman, we do not process those applications. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development processes applications related to the BIP and the Northern Manufacturers' Directive.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 562
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, my understanding of it, it usually takes one day, but in the case of the NTCL, when they found out they did not have this application, they did file an application with the department in which it took them 14 days to get approval, but that was after the bids were open. So they did make an attempt to do it, but yet, they were still refused a contract.
So I would like to ask the Minister, are you willing to take into account that there is a requirement there and there is a process that people can follow, in regard to allowing contracts and contracting services to be conducted in a manner that is within reason, that you do sit down with the contractor, make them aware of the situation, and allow for some timeframe to take place, so that they can get the required documentation and be able to have the ability to do it? Knowing that these are northern based companies and especially that they are aboriginal owned. The aboriginal people, this is their homeland and they should not have to go through the stringent requirements of having to prove who they are. It should be the other way around. The government should prove to them who they are, if they were here first.
So I think that this government should seriously consider looking at allowing for that time and flexibility of that time to take place, so that the contractors could have the opportunity to conclude those required documentations, so they can meet the BIP and the Manufacturers' Directive.
Committee Motion 25-14(3): Recommendation For A Revised Government-wide Record Management Plan For Incorporation By March 2001 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 563