Madam Chair, colleagues, I am pleased to present the 2004-05 main estimates for the Legislative Assembly on behalf of your Board of Management.
The proposed operating expenses for the Legislative Assembly in 2004-05 are $14.963 million. This represents an increase of just over three percent over the previous year's operating expenses. The draft main estimates also include a capital item of $215,000 for upgrade and replacement of the camera and sound systems for this Chamber.
Madam Chair, the first full year in the term of a new Legislative Assembly is always unique in terms of budgeting. This is partly because it is followed by the last year of the previous Assembly's term. Because of the election period, last year was only a partial year for budget purposes. The estimates for 2004-05 include a return to full year budgeting for the Assembly and the sunset of a number of election and transition-related expenses.
Last year, a number of special committees established by the 14th Legislative Assembly also completed their respective mandates, namely the special committees on self-government and the sunset clause, official languages and non-tax-based communities.
The sunsetting of funding for these special committees combined with the resulting changes to the mandate of the Office of the Languages Commissioner have allowed the Assembly to reduce its non-discretionary travel costs by approximately $175,000 or 46 percent compared to 2002-03 levels. This reduction is consistent with the reductions other government departments are making to their travel budgets.
Madam Chair, in addition to the reductions noted above, the Legislative Assembly's estimates include a number of additional cost-savings measures. Most notably, as a result of the work of the Special Committee on the Review of Official Languages, the reduced role and mandate of the Commissioner of Official Languages will result in a reduction of the budget for that office by $150,000 per year. There is a $100,000 reduction that has been transferred to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to fund the operation of two new language boards established by the 14th Legislative Assembly. Additionally, the elimination of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight's coordinator position will reduce that committee's budget by approximately $50,000.
It is important to note that the appropriations of the Legislative Assembly provide funding to a number of statutory officers of the Assembly. As in past years, these include the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Commissioner, the Chief Electoral Officer and the Languages Commissioner. In 2004-05, we will see the establishment and implementation of two additional statutory bodies, the Human Rights Commission and the Equal Pay Commissioner. The implementation of the NWT Human Rights Act this summer will be an historic and much anticipated event. The Legislative Assembly's appropriation for this year includes annual contribution to the Human Rights Commission in the amount of $630,000. This contribution will allow the commissioner to fulfill the mandate at arm's length from the Legislative Assembly. Similarly, $175,000 in new funding is also included to fund the operation of the Equal Pay Commissioner.
In terms of forced growth expenditures, the Legislative Assembly is subject to the same inflationary pressures as other government departments. There is $145,000 in additional funding required this year to cover negotiated increases to compensation and benefits. In addition, the cost of providing Hansard services to the Assembly will increase by $75,000 as a result of more active standing committee schedules.
Earlier this month, the Board of Management adopted a cultural enhancement strategy for the Legislative Assembly. This strategy was initiated by the 14th Legislative Assembly in an effort to make the Legislative Assembly more reflective of all the cultures and traditions of the Northwest Territories. The total cost of implementing this strategy over 10 years is $1 million. In recognition of the current fiscal reality, only $20,000 has been allocated to this initiative for 2004-05. At the very least, this funding will allow us to start down the road of enhancing the cultural richness of this important institution.
Mr. Chair, the current Board of Management of the Legislative Assembly has only been in place for approximately four months. In that short amount of time, however, I, as Chair of the board, have witnessed a real commitment to both providing effective and responsive service to Members and the public at large while at the same time exercising fiscal responsibilities and prudence. The estimates before you today provide the financial and human resource necessary to meet the needs of the Legislative Assembly and allow it to carry out its essential mandate.
On behalf of the Board of Management, I look forward to any comments or questions you may have. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.