Page 2-47, audit bureau, operations expense, total operations expense, $1,169,000.

Information item, active positions, page 2-48.

Page 2-49, detail of work performed on behalf of others, total department, $1,690,000.

Revenues, recoveries and transfer payments. We will go back to 2-33, Financial Management Board Secretariat, program summary, operations expense, total operations expense, $29,763,000.

We will go to capital, page 4, Financial Management Board Secretariat, capital acquisition plan, budgeting and evaluation, total budgeting and evaluation, $25,000.

Government accounting, total government accounting, $280,000.

Labour relations and compensation services, total labour relations and compensation services, $800,000.

Total department, $1,105,000.

Does the committee agree that consideration of the Financial Management Board Secretariat is completed?

I would like to thank the Minister and witnesses for appearing before the committee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend that committee stand down further consideration of the Department of the Executive and move for now to consider Municipal and Community Affairs.

Does the committee agree we will move on to Municipal and Community Affairs?

Thank you. Does the Minister have opening comments? Mr. Steen.

Yes, Mr. Chairman, I do. I will proceed with my opening comments, Mr. Chairman.

I am pleased to be here today to present the 2002-2003 Main Estimates for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

MACA is requesting $69.4 million in operating expenses for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. This includes over $46 million in grants and other contributions to support community government operations, including:

• • community government funding for ongoing operations;
• • grants in lieu of taxes;
• • senior citizens and disabled persons property tax relief;
• • water and sewer services subsidy;
• • infrastructure contributions;
• • funding for cost-shared water and sewer projects in tax-based communities; and
• • additional funding to assist community governments with rising fuel, utility and other costs.

Community governments are important partners with us in serving the people of the NWT. The operating funding MACA supplies helps community governments continue to provide important municipal programs and services to NWT residents.

Mr. Chairman, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to improving the quality of life for our citizens. The government is now working with our partners to develop a social agenda that will help us achieve this goal. MACA has a role to play in this through its programs to support and promote youth, volunteers and recreation and sport.

MACA has identified $1 million to support NWT youth in 2002-2003. This includes funding to establish an NWT youth corps. The youth corps will improve the outlook and opportunities for youth by providing support and leadership. Activities will include work assignments, volunteer work and skills improvement.

MACA is also working to help Northerners lead healthier lives. Over the past year, communities and our recreation and sport partners have said that we need to do more to support recreation and sport development. In response, we have identified $1.4 million for this purpose in 2002-2003. This money will go towards communities and recreation organizations across the NWT. This is an important investment in the health and well-being of all Northerners.

Building community capacity is also a priority for MACA. Strong community governments and local organizations make our communities better places to live in. During 2002-2003, MACA will invest in our communities by providing funding to support capacity building for community governments and organizations. This funding includes amounts to support community development projects, firefighter training and leadership development.

In the Budget Address, the Minister of Finance noted that economic development in the NWT will place increased demands on community infrastructure. Helping community governments meet that demand will be an important task for MACA in the coming year. During 2002-2003, MACA will invest $6.7 million in community infrastructure through our capital acquisitions plan. Most of this money will go towards improving water and sewer infrastructure and providing improved fire protection equipment.

Mr. Chairman, these are some of the highlights of the department's funding request for the coming fiscal year. We hope that the investments MACA will make in NWT communities during 2002-2003 will help us achieve the goals we outlined in Towards A Better Tomorrow. I look forward to hearing the committee's comments and questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.