Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to present the report on the Auditor General's Report on Termination Compensation to Two Senior Officials.
Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight wishes to report on its review of the Auditor General's Report to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories on Termination Compensation to Two Senior Officials. The report was tabled in this Assembly and referred to the committee on October 23rd, 2002.
Mr. Speaker, this report represents the views of the majority of the committee. Appended hereto are the minority reports of two Members.
Members requested this special audit in March of this year because they were not satisfied that all of the information surrounding the circumstances of the termination agreements of the former principal secretary to Cabinet and chief of staff was being made available to them.
The committee has considered the report, and met with the Auditor General to discuss it further in a public meeting on October 24, 2002. The transcript from that meeting is attached as an appendix to this report. The committee agrees with the Auditor General's findings. The audit has confirmed that the terms of the termination agreements were without justification. The staff of the Auditor General have confirmed that those terms were set in place at the direction of the Premier.
Mr. Speaker, the committee recommends that the Legislative Assembly accept the Auditor General's conclusion that the government did not handle the matter reasonably and with prudence.
The committee further recommends that in light of these findings the Premier submit his resignation forthwith as Premier and Member of the Executive Council.
Mr. Speaker, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Committee Report 11-14(5) be received by the Assembly and moved into committee of the whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.