Business planning is crucial as a planning process and as a means to arrive at the budget figures presented in the main estimates. The only change in budgeting for the 2001/2002 fiscal year, since the business plan review, is an increase of $342,000 to meet the requirements of the collective bargaining agreement that was ratified by the UNW in December.
During the review of the 2001/2004 business plans, it came to the attention of the committee that the Executive offices planned to consolidate the Women's Advisory with the Office for the Status of Women in the 2002-2003 fiscal year. In its report, Review of the 2001/2004 Business Plans, the committee recommended this consolidation not occur and that the funds be reinstated in the 2002-2003 operations expenses for the department. The committee was pleased to learn that the department has decided not to proceed with the proposed consolidation.