Mr. Speaker, I also wish to table a document entitled GNWT Policy 49.07: Extended Health Benefits.

Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 2, Bill 3, committee reports 3-14(6), 4-14(6), 5-14(6) and 6-14(6) with Mr. Delorey in the chair.

I call committee of the whole to order. We have a number of issues to discuss in Committee of the Whole. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I recommend committee continue consideration of Bill 3 and Committee reports 3-14(6), 4-14(6), and 5-14(6) concurrently to start, first of all, considering the budget of the Department of Executive and if we should conclude that, then perhaps moving on to Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The

committee will call a short break and come back and review the Department of Executive.

---SHORT RECESS

Department Of Executive

I will call the Committee of the Whole back to order. We are here to review the Department of Executive. Does the Minister have any opening comments? Premier Kakfwi.

Minister's Opening Comments

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Department of Executive is requesting a budget of $14.733 million for fiscal year 2003-2004. This represents a three percent decrease from the main estimates for the Executive in 2002-2003. This decrease has come about as a result to the transfer of the Energy Secretariat to the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

As we enter the last year of our mandate, the Department of Executive will continue to provide support to Cabinet and leadership to the government on a number of key policy and strategic initiatives. The department will also continue to provide a coordinating and advisory role on interdepartmental working groups relating to government priorities.

Building on past successes, the department will continue to coordinate two important components of the maximizing northern employment program. During 2002-2003, 371 summer students were hired under the northern student employment program. Fully one-third of these students were hired outside of Yellowknife. Under the northern graduate employment program, 43 of the 27 interns placed this year were able to secure continuing employment at the end of their internship.

Through our intergovernmental affairs and strategic planning division, the department will continue to foster positive relationships with federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as with international organizations such as the Circumpolar Conference. The GNWT's involvement Premiers' conferences, First Ministers' meetings and other intergovernmental forums has given us a strong voice, nationally and internationally, one that the government will continue to use to the greatest possible advantage.

The communications division is spearheading the development of the GNWT's new visual identity program. The key components of this program are the development of a revitalized polar bear logo, the publication of a visual identity program manual and the development of a new copyright and trademark policy for this government.

The department is undertaking new initiatives for which no additional funding is required. A new executive director has been hired for the Beaufort-Delta region to assist with the need for coordination of self-government implementation initiatives in this region.

The department has reallocated $300,000 from other areas to support this office on a one-year trial basis. If this initiative proves to be successful, consideration will be given to the continuation of this office and the addition of executive directors in other regions.

Additionally, the Department of Executive is coordinating a corporate review and transition planning exercise. Included in this process is a detailed headquarters review intended to identify potential economies that the government may be able to take advantage of. The exercise will also provide vital statistical program and environmental scanning information for consideration by the 15th Legislative Assembly in developing its own agenda. This work involves overseeing the deputy ministerial task team process and preparing transition documentation, a normal activity of all governments leading up to an election.

The department is not seeking additional funding resources in relation to this initiative.

Requested Increases To Base Funding

The Department of Executive is requesting two budget increases in these estimates. A forced growth increase of $398,000 is requested to meet the requirements of the collective bargaining agreement ratified by the UNW in July 2002.

The department is also seeking approval for an adjustment of $108,000 for a grant-in-kind to the Native Women's Association to assist them to remain in their current accommodations. This adjustment covers fiscal years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005.

Transfer Of Responsibilities

Mr. Chairman, the government must always look for ways to improve its efficiency and its effectiveness. As reported to you, in September 2002, responsibility for the Energy Secretariat was transferred to the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. The $1 million budget earmarked for the Energy Secretariat was transferred accordingly. As a result, there was a net decrease of $494,000 in the Department of Executive budget for fiscal year 2003-2004.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my opening remarks. I am now prepared to answer any questions that committee members may have. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Mr. Braden.

Standing Committee On Accountability And Oversight Committee Comments

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight met with the Premier on January 13, 2003 to review the Department of the Executive's draft 2003-2004 Main Estimates.

The Department of the Executive is proposing an increase of $32,000 to its proposed operations expenses budget from the amount presented to Committee in September, when we reviewed the Business Plans for 2003-2006. The increase is due to an increase in the grant-in-kind lease for the NWT Native Women's Association.

Growth In Department

As the committee reviewed the department's proposed increase in operations expenditures, Members expressed concern about the ever-expanding resource allotment for non-service departments of the GNWT.

Members of the committee are particularly concerned that departments such as the Executive and the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, that do not deliver services to the public, have significantly increased their yearly budgets.

Prior to the division of the NWT and Nunavut, the Department of the Executive's budget was approximately $10 million, 1998-99 Main Estimates. The budget for 2003-2004 is projected to be almost $15 million, a growth of over 50 percent since the beginning of this Assembly. Post-division, one would expect that costs should have decreased, if anything. Members encourage the department to find ways to limit growth and address new priorities from within the department rather than continually increasing their annual budget.

Social Agenda - Support For NGOs

During the review of the 2003-2006 business plans the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight pointed out a lack of resources for implementation of the recommendations from the Social Agenda report.

Shortly afterwards the government tabled Doing 'Our Part - The Government's Response to the Social Agenda' in the Assembly. A subsequent briefing was provided to the committee outlining a proposed investment of $1.4 million for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.

The committee reviewed the intended investments and noted a planned expenditure of $170,000 for the Department of the Executive from the Social Agenda funding. A total of $50,000 was to be allotted for administration related to the implementation and communication of Social Agenda recommendations while the remaining $120,000 was to address a shortage of space available to the Status of Women Council of the NWT.

The committee sent a letter to the Premier outlining their support for the allocation of resources for the Social Agenda but also expressing concern that funds appeared to address long-standing concerns of departments rather than front-line actions. For that reason, the committee recommended that the need for additional funding by the Status of Women Council of the NWT be addressed within the department of the Executive's budget rather than under funding labelled as responding to the Social Agenda recommendations.

After reviewing the draft 2003-04 main estimates it appeared that the Department had chosen instead to cut the social agenda-related funding to $32,000. Then Members became aware that the Status of Women Council of the NWT had recently moved into new offices leased by the GNWT.

The Premier explained that the Status of Women Council of the NWT is actually a public agency, pursuant to legislation enacted by the legislature, and is therefore entitled to occupy government-owned or leased premises. The government decided to move the council office into space in the Northwest Tower. The department then provided an additional $32,000 in grant-in-kind funding to the Native Women's Association of the NWT to allow them to expand into the Status of Women Council's previous office space.

The standing committee is pleased to see that their concerns about labelling Social Agenda funding were at least partially addressed and that the subsequent decision adequately accommodated both women's organizations without incurring a significant increase in resources.

Restructuring Government

During the review of the business plans, the Premier informed the committee that as part of planning for transition to the 15th Assembly, a number of task teams of deputy ministers are looking at possible ways of restructuring and streamlining government services and departments. These task teams are referred to as the cost mitigation task teams. The Premier stated that a draft plan would be available in March 2003 that would contain their general and specific recommendations.

A subsequent briefing on the corporate review and transition planning project indicated that four Interim Reports would be made available to the committee in order that Regular Members would be able to review proposed changes and offer input. These reports were to be provided in November 2002 and February, June and September 2003.

During the review of the main estimates however, the Premier indicated that a draft report would not be made available until May/June of this year. Members are concerned that this leaves little time for them to have adequate knowledge of and input to the proposed changes for the new government of the 15th Legislative Assembly.

A letter was sent to the Premier requesting confirmation that the interim reports will be provided as initially indicated during the review of the business plans.

Executive Director For Beaufort-Delta

Regular Members noted that a new executive director position for the Beaufort-Delta had been created. The Premier stated that this was a commitment he had made during a conference in the Beaufort-Delta to assist in regional co-ordination in preparation for the implementation of a final self-government agreement.

Members asked when other regions participating in self-government negotiations would be entitled to similar positions within their own regions. The Premier advised the committee that as other groups progress in their negotiations that the government will consider adding positions as they become necessary.

During the review of the main estimates members asked for and received a copy of the job description for the position. Members also became aware that this new regional office was being implemented on a one-year term basis and the effectiveness of the new division would be evaluated before permanent status would be given.

Members are interested in knowing more about the evaluation process and potential measuring sticks to be used to gauge effectiveness of the office. Members are somewhat concerned, as well, by the short period of time that the director has to prove the division's usefulness to the region and department.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Does the Minister of the Executive wish to bring in any witnesses?

Yes

Does the committee agree? Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in.

Premier Kakfwi, for the record, could you introduce your witnesses.

Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I have on my left the deputy minister for Department of Executive, Liz Snider and on my right, the director of finance and administration, Carl Bird.

Thank you, Premier Kakfwi. General comments. Ms. Lee.

General Comments

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to make some comments about the maximizing northern employment program. As I stated many times in this House, I do believe that it is a very good program, it's one that is getting lots of good feedback from those who are able to take advantage of it, northern graduates, who need assistance to get their feet in the door, whether it be with the public service or in private sectors and also the nurses and social workers and teachers whose jobs are being guaranteed with GNWT upon graduation.

One area that I have been talking about that I think could have been addressed under this program that has not been addressed concerns the post-secondary students with disabilities. Mr. Chairman, I tabled a document in the House called "Information on the Northern Graduate Employment Programs". That is a component of maximizing northern employment. The reason why I tabled that is because it came into my possession, I think it is a publicly available document, but someone came to my office with an issue under that on a different topic and when I was reading through it, I noticed that in the section where it defines what northern graduates are there is a note that says, "The above would exclude disabled individuals who were attending specialized facilities outside the NWT immediately prior attending a post-secondary institution". Special consideration would have to be given to these

situations. I was curious about this section because I wanted to know what was available for students with disabilities under maximizing northern employment.

So, I've inquired about that and what I've learned is there is special consideration for those students who are northern residents but had to be in southern schools because of their disability. This does not cater to what I thought it might have meant, which would be to help those students with disabilities who get post-secondary education to come back and get help just like the other student. So, I wanted to bring this issue to the attention of the House as well as the Minister and whoever is working with this program.

So, I'm wondering if I could get information as to whether or not, when this program was being designed, was there any thought given to what we, as a government, could do to help those graduates, who get out of school and who have disabilities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Premier

Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I don't have the wording or the information that the Member is referring to but it's my advice that students like that, even though they may not qualify under the criteria, will still be given special consideration. So, that is my understanding of what was intended there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Ms. Lee.

Yes, and I agree and I accept that. I was told that special consideration would be given for this particular case, for those who fit into that section. I understand that there has been no one who has taken advantage of that but, I guess, my point is that there is a gap in this. There are people, students with disabilities who are excluded from this still. Even with this provision and those are students who would not qualify under this program because the schools that they are attending would not be considered a post-secondary education by conventional definition because here you have to have a diploma or a degree.

I have been pursuing this with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment over the last three, four, five days in the House and months beyond that outside of the House in my communication with him, and I keep repeating this, and I think this is a really important point, because there is a gap in our law and our policy to deal with students with disabilities, who are not able to be in a conventional post-secondary educational setting. This sort of special consideration caters to more than physical disabilities, for lack of better words. But, what about those students who have disabilities that impede their learning and those who get through inclusive schooling that we provide up to Grade 12 and then various other programs that they enter into.

The one I've been talking about is a vocational transition program. For me and to the people that are in this program, that is their post-secondary education. That would allow them to move into a career that would get them to maximize their talent and potential. Although it is not a degree or a diploma program, in the conventional sense, that is what is going to keep them away from the income support line or from continuing to have to rely on their family. It is post-secondary education as much as any other, whether it be with the student financial assistance under the Department of Education, Culture and Employment or with this special government program that has been highly successful. That section of our society is being ignored. I acknowledged that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment indicated that he is working with the federal government and there is a program called employability being set up and so forth. But my question still to the Premier and the government is, when we have a Minister designated for disability and when we espouse the principle of protecting and acknowledging the rights of disabilities, why do we continue to forget to add their situation into consideration when we are making a policy? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Premier. Ms. Snider.

Thank you, Ms. Snider. Ms. Lee.