Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, as part of the Government of the Northwest Territories' commitment to open and transparent government, I am pleased to announce that the government will be preparing ministerial travel reports on a quarterly basis beginning with the first quarter of 2004.
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Ministerial travel reports will cover travel that Ministers undertake as part of their specific responsibilities as Cabinet Ministers and home travel. The reports will also include the following information: the date and purpose of travel, the destination and method of travel, the portfolio responsibility under which the travel occurred and the cost of the travel.
Mr. Speaker, as soon as the ministerial travel report for the 1st quarter of 2004 is finalized, we will provide this report to the Members of the Legislative Assembly and post the report on the Government on the Northwest Territories web site. The report will also be tabled in the Legislative Assembly during the May sitting.
Mr. Speaker, we believe the provision of this information in a timely and regular manner is another step in enhancing transparency and accountability in government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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