I would like to thank the Member for those comments. It is our intent, as we go forward with the socioeconomic agreements to make sure that more and more they are legally binding. Our experience has been through different MOUs, MOAs, MOIs, that we may have had agreements that weren't legally binding. We recognize the merits of having these things be something we can hold industry to. We think certainly it's important. That's why when we sit down to negotiate these socioeconomic agreements, we do so in lockstep with our justice officials, and I know the Member is very familiar with his work formerly as the Justice Minister. I am sure this comprised a lot of his time, providing advice to this department on whether or not we did have watertight, legal-type agreements and documents in place. I guess I would say the first few that we've been doing may be not as legally binding as we would like, but I would like to tell the Member and assure committee that we have been learning as we go and we see the merits. We are actively trying not work to improve these because it's important that if we are going to make sure the benefits accrue to northerners, that we have something we can fall back on that holds water. It's certainly my intent to make sure that these documents do just that. I take the Member's point that we need to move beyond this mindset of setting up these sorts of quasi agreements that are really just notices of intent on behalf of industry to do certain things and actually get commitments, get targets and get things we can measure and get things we can hold both industry and ourselves to. It's important to have these very well documented so people in the NWT know where we stand and know where industry stands. Thank you.
Debates of March 22nd, 2004
This is page numbers 113 - 182 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.
Topics
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 22nd, 2004
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under grants and contributions, on page 11-12, it makes reference to the Mackenzie Valley development contributions and some of the initiatives under the non-renewable resource development strategy. If the Minister can perhaps provide a bit of detail to the Mackenzie Valley development contributions.
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can give the Member and committee a breakdown on that $975,000. Mackenzie Valley development socioeconomic agreements, the development of these, we have $150,000; a long-term wealth creation initiatives, $255,000; oil and gas training programs, $200,000; entrepreneurial training, $80,000; new initiatives, $40,000; and, Aboriginal Pipeline Group, $250,000. That makes up the $975,000. I think we talked about the $250,000 prior but probably didn't have detail on the rest of that information the last time we spoke of it.
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
We can certainly do that. I am not sure if the Member would like me to get some paper and distribute it or read it.
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
The Chair David Ramsay
Thank you, Ms. Lee. If you could, the other expenses for $4.574 million, read those into the record.
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Travel and transportation, $426,000; materials and supplies, $492,000; purchased services, $1.055 million; utilities, building related, $591,000; contract services, $1.196 million; fees and payments, $91,000; other expenses, $679,000; and, computer hardware and software, $44,000. That comes to a total of $4.574 million. That comprises corporate management and the line item the Member was referring to, $4.574 on page 11-9.
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think this department and this division is the start of some of the larger other expenses areas that we are going to see. In fact, when I saw the total budget for this department and the other expenses, and this department is bigger in compensation and benefits. The total other expenses is $36.6 million as opposed to compensation and benefits which is almost $34 million. I have a couple of questions on what the Minister gave us. Under purchased services, this division has a budget of $1 million. That would mean as many as 10 PYs in government jobs. Contract services, once again, is $1.196 million. That would amount to another 12 jobs. I don't know what goes into purchased services. I would be interested in more information on that. At the same time, I would like to know if there is a further breakdown of $679,000 for other expenses. Thank you.
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
At this point, Mr. Chairman, this is getting into quite a bit of detail. If it's the Member's wish, I could have Mr. Kennedy get into a reconciliation of this detail for the committee.
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
The Chair David Ramsay
Thank you, Mr. Minister. I believe that would be fine. Ms. Lee, is that okay with you?
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Sandy Lee Range Lake
That's fine. Mr. Chairman, I am mostly for now interested in a further breakdown of the other expenses of $679,000.
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 167
Kennedy
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In RWED and throughout all the detail here, the only things that we have
under other expenses are chargebacks. Either the TSC or communications. Those are the only things that are budgeted for in other expenses. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 168
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 168
Sandy Lee Range Lake
I would like to ask a question on travel for $426,000. That is quite a sum of money. That would be pretty big as a contract. What is the practice of the department in deciding where the travel bookings would be made? Is there a uniform place where they go to? Does the department enter into a contract for this? I am assuming this comes out of one division and there will be one or two people in charge of spending that $426,000. I would like to know more about that. We are looking at $490,000 for materials and services just for one division. I think the same questions can apply there. Thank you.