Thank you, Mr. Premier. Ms. Snider.

Thank you, Ms. Snider. Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Mr. Premier.

Thank you. I am not clear if our government is actively communicating with communities and groups that have these agreements. I know that many of the Maximizing Northern Employment initiatives are geared towards the private sector and the aboriginal groups and industry. If we are not, we should be. How is that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. We are on page 2-19. Mr. Premier.

Sorry, the Member had also raised the issue of appeals. We should just inform the Members of the Legislature here that we are preparing to have this discussion about appeals with a committee on Thursday. Following that, we may be able to have some resolution to that issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Page 2-19, Cabinet Secretariat, operations expense, total operations expense, $11,179,000.

Page 2-21, Public Utilities Board, operations expense, total operations expense, $401,000.

Information item, page 2-22, active positions. Page 2-23, detail of work performed on behalf of third parties, total department, $31,000.

Page 2-24, lease commitments infrastructure, information item.

We will return to page 2-11, Executive Offices, program summary, operations expense, total operations expense, $15,227,000.

Does the committee agree that review of the Executive Offices is concluded?

I would like to thank the Premier and his witnesses for appearing. As previously agreed, we will move on to the Financial Management Board Secretariat. I will ask the Minister if he has any opening comments.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present the Financial Management Board Secretariat's 2002-2003 main estimates.

The 2002-2003 main estimates proposed total operational expenses of $29,763,000. This provides for a total net growth from the 2000-2001 fiscal year of $2,802,000 and represents a slightly greater than 10 percent increase in expenditures from the previous fiscal year. The expenditure increases proposed for the FMB Secretariat included:

• • $1,500,000 to address increased power subsidy program requirements associated with recent electricity rate increases;
• • $299,000 to provide for the FMBS costs associated with preparing for and conducting collective bargaining negotiations this coming year; and
• • $1 million in support of research and consultation regarding NWT hydro-electric potential.

During the review of business plans and main estimates, the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development questioned the location of the hydro initiative in the FMB Secretariat. In its report, the committee suggested that the government combine all of its energy responsibilities and initiatives into one coordinated task or activity. As committed to by the Premier, an approach will be presented to committees before the end of this session to address this concern. In the interim, the hydro funding continues to be included in the FMB Secretariat.

The Secretariat's proposed capital acquisition plan for the 2002-2003 fiscal year includes $1,105,000 for three information technology projects:

1. Approximately every 18 to 24 months, software vendors release a major software upgrade. These upgrades are significant and include enhancements or changes to software. The vendor only supports a version of software for a certain period of time. In order to remain supportable, the current version of PeopleSoft needs to be upgraded. $800,000 has been allocated to complete this conversion.
2. $280,000 has been allocated to complete software upgrades to the existing financial information system to keep it functional while a business needs analysis for its replacement is performed.
3. $25,000 has been allocated for the development of a review plan for the implementation of a corporate budget development and monitoring system.

That completes this brief overview of the proposed FMBS estimates, and I will be pleased to answer questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Does the chair of the standing committee responsible for FMBS have any comments? Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Financial Management Board Secretariat reports to the Minister of Finance. FMBS manages and controls the government's financial, human and information resources. The FMBS, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and the Executive Offices make up the Department of the Executive. Each component submits their own business plans and main estimates for review by the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development.

The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development met with the chair of the Financial Management Board and his staff on Wednesday, January 16, 2002, to review the Secretariat's main estimates for 2002-2003.

The committee noted a $3,000 net increase in operations expenses for the Secretariat from their 2002-2005 business plans. This entire increase is attributed to a $3,000 decrease in the Secretariat's amortization estimates.

The FMBS did not propose any increase in its capital expenditures from their 2002-2005 business plans. However, committee members did recall that the Secretariat proposed a $985,000 increase to their capital plan in their 2002-2005 business plans from their 2001-2002 main estimates. This capital expenditure increase was due to a PeopleSoft upgrade of $800,000 and other improvements for the financial information system, and the budgeting development and monitoring system.