Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Financial Management Board Secretariat, 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.

The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development met with the chair of the Financial Management Board and his staff on Wednesday, January 15, 2003, to review the secretariat's draft main estimates for 2003-2004.

The committee noted a net $359,000 increase in operations expense for FMBS from their 2003-2006 business plans. FMBS explained that this net increase is due to a $93,000 adjustment in amortization expense; a $226,000 transfer from Health and Social Services for the Fort Smith and Deh Cho Health and Social Services Boards for the provision of payroll and benefits support; and $40,000 for the development of evaluation capacity in support of the social agenda action plan. There were no changes in capital expenditures for the secretariat from its 2003-2006 business plan.