Does the committee agree the NWT Housing Corporation has been concluded?

With that, thank you, Mr. Minister, and thank you, witnesses. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend the committee continue on with considering Bill 2 and Committee Reports 1 through 3 concurrently, to deal next with the Executive, followed by FMBS and then Aboriginal Affairs.

Does the committee agree?

We will just take a short break.

--- Break

I will call the House back to order. We are now dealing with the Department of the Executive. At this time, I would like to ask the Premier if he has any opening remarks. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The primary role of the Department of Executive is to support Cabinet by translating its political direction into administrative action so the entire government and its partners can succeed in achieving goals arising from Towards a Better Tomorrow.

The work of the department also includes support to the Premier's office, Ministers' offices and the Executive Council; coordination of the government's relations with other governments and with the public; government-wide strategic planning and policy development coordination; corporate human resource services; support to departments to improve government-wide communications; and the provision of protocol services.

Mr. Chairman, during the life of this government, the department has been assigned the lead for a number of key initiatives necessary to fulfill our collective vision. These include the Northwest Territories Energy Strategy, Maximizing Northern Employment and the Social Agenda Framework. I have already briefed the House on the social agenda. Because we are not seeking additional funding for this initiative in this budget, my remarks will focus on the other initiatives I have mentioned.

An Energy Secretariat has been established to coordinate the efforts of the government and its partners in the development of an NWT Energy Strategy. Through a comprehensive consultation process with all NWT stakeholders, the Energy Secretariat will identify a wide range of energy consumption and management options. An investment of $1 million is requested to support this initiative. Cabinet is reviewing various options to amalgamate all energy-related programs under a single Minister.

Concurrent with the appointment of the Special Advisor to Cabinet on the Intergovernmental Forum as deputy minister for the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, the Intergovernmental Forum Secretariat was transferred to the Ministry. This will ensure that Intergovernmental Forum initiatives are coordinated with others being undertaken by the Ministry.

As a result, some of the Department of the Executive's baseline funding will be transferred to Aboriginal Affairs. This includes salary dollars for three persons and O and M and contribution funding totaling $1,148,000.

In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, the Executive contributes to the government's overall effort by ensuring that departments are working closely with one another, that all necessary groups and agencies are involved and that the resources of government are being efficiently employed. The department has taken on this lead coordinating role in response to Members who spoke of the need to improve the overall coordination of government initiatives and strategies.

Mr. Chairman, the additional investment of $5,646,000 that we are seeking as an increase to our base funding is critical to achieving the important goals outlined in this business plan. We must continue to work effectively together to achieve the vision in Towards a Better Tomorrow. With fewer than 20 months remaining in our mandate, it is essential we approach these strategies in a cooperative and collegial manner. I look forward to working with every member of Caucus towards that end.

I would now be pleased to answer any questions you may have on the department's 2002-2003 main estimates submission. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. At this time, I would like to ask the chairperson of the committee that is responsible for reviewing the department presently under consideration, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Department of the Executive provides support and advice to the Executive Council and its committees. The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development met with the Premier and his staff on January 22, 2002, to review the department's 2002-2003 draft main estimates.

The Department of the Executive proposed a $1,148,000 decrease in its overall expenditures from the business plan. The decrease in funds is entirely due to the shift of the Intergovernmental Forum to the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs.

As the committee reviewed the Department of Executive's draft main estimates, the chairperson noted the placement of the social agenda within that department opened the door for considerable discussion on social issues and problems that would usually fall under the domain of the Standing Committee on Social Programs. The committee would once again like to recommend that the Social Action Working Group or SAWG initiative be placed within the most relevant department, namely the Department of Health and Social Services.

The committee was concerned that there did not appear to be collaboration between the Department of Health and Social Services and the SAWG. While the department's action plan was announced in January of 2002, the recommendations of SAWG are not due to be released until the end of February 2002. The committee is unsure how these recommendations will be incorporated into the department's action plan, or if they will be. The committee would like to be assured that SAWG's recommendations would be considered in the plans of the Department of Health and Social Services.

The committee was also made aware that SAWG's mandate was only recently and rather quickly written, despite the group's previous meetings and significant funding. The committee would like to be assured that this group has clear, established roles and responsibilities and a well-thought out action plan.

The committee is aware that in addition to the newly formed Energy Secretariat in the Department of Executive and the Hydro Secretariat within FMBS, there are a number of other departments working on energy initiatives. The committee would like to see a reorganization that incorporates all of these initiatives under one roof in order to reduce costs and avoid duplication of efforts.

The committee noted that Mr. Handley is in charge of the Energy Secretariat, despite the fact that the Executive is the responsibility of the Premier. The committee was informed that both Minister Handley and Minister Antoine are in the process of developing option papers regarding the coordination of both energy and environment initiatives. The committee looks forward to reviewing the option papers once completed and offering its opinion on any new proposals.

During the discussion of the possible reorganization of energy initiatives, the issue of environmental protection arose. While the committee recognizes that environmental protection is largely a federal responsibility, members would like to be assured that the GNWT is monitoring the environment to prevent possible oversights by the federal government.

The committee noted that the Premier, in his recent address to the people of the Northwest Territories of January 11, 2002, stated:

Let me state categorically, this government is committed to ensuring that the land is protected for all our future generations, and for the duration of our term, we will continue to work and to organize ourselves in ways that better reflect the important balance between environmental management and resource development.

The committee recognizes that the federal government must do its share of the cleanup of sites throughout the North. However, the committee acknowledges that the territorial government also has a responsibility to its residents to ensure that they live in a clean, safe environment. The committee looks forward to reviewing the environmental options paper being prepared by Minister Antoine.

That concludes the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development's report on the Executive offices. Thank you.

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

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Does the committee agree?

Sergeant-at-Arms, would you escort the witnesses in? For the record, Mr. Premier, would you introduce your witnesses?