Mr. Chairman, I apologize if the Member expected me to table this today. I understood him to make it available to the committee. I would be happy to table this tomorrow.
Debates of Feb. 27th, 2001
This is page numbers 1265 - 1329 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
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Steen. The question was also if you could have it distributed to the Members now and then table it tomorrow. Could that be arranged, Mr. Steen?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 27th, 2001
Page 1292
Vince Steen Nunakput
Mr. Chairman, that is what I intend to do. I have copies here for the Members. I would be happy to table a copy of this tomorrow.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to ask that the copies be distributed before we change pages here, so that Members are aware of any fee increases that may be contained on this page?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Paul Delorey
Thank you. Could I have the Minister send it up to the Clerk's table? Mr. Dent, anything further? Mr. Dent.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, not at this time. I may have some questions after seeing the table on the fee increases.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
I was just wondering, in regard to the increase on the compensation benefits, which have increased almost $500,000. Could the Minister explain what that increase is for?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Vician
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The changes are a result of a series of adjustments, predominantly the adjustment related to the UNW increase that was associated with the recent collective agreement. That was the key part. The remaining portion was with regard to a transfer of the transportation assistance program that is provided to two communities currently under the Department of Public Works and Services as a program which is being transferred for administration purposes to the Department of Transportation. The total changes add up to the difference of approximately $500,000. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Does this amount also take into account that the vacancies within the department that those dollars are still allocated, regardless of whether the position is filled or not?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Vician
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, budgets account for vacancy during that period. In many cases, a vacancy is back-filled with a casual position for a short-term time. So in the case of a vacancy in the corporate services budget, if it is a financial position that was vacant for a period of time during staffing, those dollars would then be reallocated to help offset the cost with a casual position in that sense. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Since you mentioned you have quite a few vacancies, what happens to those resources in the budget that are not used within the budget year? Does it go back into general revenues? Is that spent elsewhere within the department?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Vician
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. During the course of a year from the time an estimate is approved by the Legislative Assembly, there were often changes during the course of a year. If there are any funds remaining at the end of the appropriated year, those funds of course return to the financial books of the Government of the Northwest Territories. If during the course of the year adjustments are needed, those being approved by the Financial Management Board or the Minister, some adjustments can be made, but generally speaking, the budgets are very tight and by year-end, if there is any free balance, it returns to the budget of the government. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
With regard to vacancies, you mentioned there were five vacancies in the Inuvik region. Could the Inuvik region spend the allocation fro those five positions say within their regional budget on other items than having those positions filled?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Vician
Mr. Chairman, once again, I would say that in the period of a vacancy, if a position was vacant and work was needed, the option exists for the department to procure those services through a position such as a casual hire for a short period of time or, if necessary, a contract resource to bring on to help during that shortfall period. It would really depend on the nature of the position.
For instance, if it was a position at an airport facility for one of the maintenance personnel, the work could be done by a casual backfill for that period of time, or it could be done as well by contract resource that was procured to help provide that service for that short period.
In answering the other part of the question, could a region do this? Yes, those authorities are given to the region in the overall operations and performance of their responsibilities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.