Going back to page 3-7, department summary, operations expense, total operations expense, $9,519,000.

Agreed. We have concluded the Department of Finance. I would like to thank the Minister and his witnesses. Thank you.

I would like to call the committee back to order. We are now going to deal with the Legislative Assembly main estimates. With that, I would like to ask the Speaker if he has any opening comments. Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the committee responsible for overseeing the department under review if they have any comments on the department's main estimates. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight met with the Speaker and his staff to review the draft 2001-2002 main estimates on the 15th of January, 2001. The office of the Legislative Assembly is divided into five ongoing activities: office of the Speaker, office of the Clerk, expenditures on behalf of Members, office of the Chief Electoral Officer and Commissioner of Official Languages. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Commissioner and Conflict of Interest Commissioner are included in the office of the Clerk.

Business Plan and Main Estimates Review

The review of the draft government business plans and main estimates by standing committees is an integral part of the annual budget development process. Business planning is crucial as a planning process and as a means to arrive at the budget figures presented in the main estimates.

Since the review of the 2001-2004 Legislative Assembly business plan, the committee noted a number of changes to the figures proposed for the 2001-2002 main estimates.

• • As a result of the recent collective bargaining agreement that was ratified by the UNW in December, there has been a forced growth increase of $226,000; $128,000 was for the 2000-2001 fiscal year and $98,000 for the 2001-2002 fiscal year.
• • There has been an increase of $131,000 for the Office of the Languages Commissioner, $5,000 of which can be attributed to the UNW agreement.
• • The committee also observed a reduction of $134,000 for the office of the Chief Electoral Officer and a minor change in amortization figures.

Conservation and Reduction in Energy Consumption

The committee is concerned that the rising cost of fuel will have an adverse affect upon the budgets of all government departments. Rising costs of necessary items such as fuel will affect the already sadly depleted program and service funding. The committee is of the opinion that new programs and procedures to reduce energy consumption should be pursued. Upon raising the issue of energy conservation with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the committee was assured that the Legislative Assembly building is a new facility that employs modern, energy efficient systems. Little could be done to further reduce the consumption of energy in the building.

The committee is of the opinion that more can be done. There are other methods and means to increase the energy efficiency of the building; examples are solar panels and energy conservation education programs for occupants of the building. As a Legislature, we should be setting an example for government and the people of the Northwest Territories. The committee requests that an energy conservation plan for the Legislative Assembly building and its occupants be developed and presented as part of the 2002-2005 business plans.

Budget Changes - Office of the Languages Commissioner and Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

As a result of their review of the Languages Commissioner's business plan, the committee recommended the budget for the office be increased by $126,000 to cover additional costs of a new research analyst position, new sections for the website, purchased services, a newsletter and advisory board meetings. The committee is pleased to note that this recommendation has been implemented in the 2001-2002 main estimates for the Legislative Assembly.

The committee further notes that since the presentation of the 2001-2004 business plan, there has been $134,000 removed from the budget of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. As the cost for the elections office is cyclical, the present situation allows for monies budgeted to this activity to be reallocated. However, the monies that have been reallocated from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer will become part of the base budget of other offices within the Legislative Assembly. The Members have noted that as an election year approaches, it will be necessary to increase the budget for this office. As monies identified for this activity have been reallocated, new money will have to be requested.

Conclusion

The committee also notes that there were a number of commitments made during the review of the Legislative Assembly business plan that will require action in the upcoming year. The Members look forward to receiving information on the public affairs strategy, school information packages, analysis of the demand on research and library services, cultural awareness training for staff, and plans to impart corporate knowledge to more staff.

Mr. Chairman, that concludes the committee's report on the Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. At this time I would like to ask the Speaker if he will be bringing in any witnesses.

Yes, Mr. Chairman. I would be prepared to, if the committee has any questions to ask me.

Does the committee agree?

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in. Mr. Speaker, please introduce your witnesses for the record.

Mr. Chairman, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to introduce to you Mr. David Hamilton, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and to my right, Mr. Myles Moreside, director of corporate services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome, witnesses. General comments.

Detail. We are on page 1-9, office of the Clerk, operations expense, total operations expense, $6,483,000. Agreed?

Office of the Speaker, operations expense, total operations expense, $118,000. Agreed?

Expenditures on behalf of Members, operations expense, total operations expense, $4,306,000. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There have been a number of changes as Members came into the 14th Assembly in the area of expenses paid on behalf of Members in carrying out their duties. I would like to know from the Speaker if these changes have shown any savings, or has it in fact been the same cost or increased cost? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am finding it a little difficult to be able to compare the two years and the two different Assemblies. There were different services, I would imagine, and I find it difficult to be able to compare the two.

Mr. Roland.