Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs is one of the three separate and distinct programs operated within the Department of Executive. The ministry, in order to fulfill its responsibilities is comprised of the following activities: the directorate, policy, implementation, and negotiations.
The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development met to review the main estimates for the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Department of Executive on January 18, 2001. The committee noted a $206,000 increase in operations expense from the Ministry's 2001-2004 business plan projections, of which $176,000 is attributed to the UNW collective agreement and $30,000 as an increase in the amortization figures.