Madam Speaker, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight is pleased to provide its Report on Progress on the Committee Priorities and Objectives and present it to the House.

Introduction

In April 2004, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight held a two-day operational planning workshop to review its mandate and set its priorities and objectives for the 15th Assembly. These plans were shared with our colleagues and the public in our first Report on Priorities and Objectives, which we presented to the Legislative Assembly on June 1, 2004.

The committee held its second operational and strategic planning workshop in Tuktoyaktuk from April 15 to 17, 2005, at which time we reviewed progress made to date on our priorities and objectives. This report summarizes that progress as we see it and sets out our broad direction for the remainder of the 15th Assembly.

Background

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight includes all 11 Regular Members. Its mandate as set out in the Rules of the Legislative Assembly is to:

1. review issues which have government-wide implications, including the overview of the budget and fiscal framework;
2. review multi-year business plans, budgets and bills of the Department of the Executive, including the Executive offices, the Financial Management Board Secretariat, and the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, and of the Department of Finance;
3. consider the budgets and financial management of any other boards and agencies that are outside the responsibility of any standing committee;
4. examine the reports on the annual financial statements and public accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the report of the Auditor General.
5. review government reports on financial and performance results on program and policy evaluations to ensure anticipated outcomes are being achieved and accountability is maximized;
6. review, as necessary or appropriate, the annual and other reports of statutory officers of the Legislative Assembly, including the Commissioner of Official Languages, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the Equal Pay Commissioner and the Human Rights Commissioner;
7. coordinate House business, scheduling and planning in cooperation with appropriate Cabinet representatives; and,
8. consider any other matters referred by the House.

The vision adopted by the committee in April 2004 is:

a strong, effective consensus government that has the confidence of the people of the NWT.

Our mission is:

to take purposeful and unified action, where appropriate, to support, question or oppose government initiatives and to hold government accountable. We will also use our collective power to influence government to take action and/or to change its policies when in the public interest.

Progress On Committee Priorities

As we stated in our June 2004 Report on Priorities and Objectives, our key priority is:

holding government accountable to our collective 15th Assembly vision and goals.

In June 2004, the government released its strategic plan, Self-Reliant People, Communities and Northwest Territories - A Shared Responsibility, which set out the broad direction for the government based on the 15th Assembly's collective vision and goals. The standing committee's review of the government's draft business plans has been and will continue to be an important tool to hold the government accountable to our collective vision and goals. The committee also looks forward to a progress report from the government on the implementation of its strategic plan, and, in the meantime, would offer the following general comments.

Generally, the committee is satisfied that the government is doing its best to negotiate a fair devolution and resource revenue sharing deal for our territory, which is key to goal one, a strong northern voice and identity. The committee supported a benefits of our northern resources motion on October 21, 2004, that included a resolution:

That the Legislative Assembly urges the federal government to negotiate a fair resource revenue sharing agreement that provides northern governments with an equitable share of royalties from our hydrocarbons and minerals as essential to ensuring the people of the Northwest Territories are the primary beneficiaries of the development of our resources.

Successful negotiation and implementation of aboriginal land, resource and self-government agreements in all regions is also key to achieving this goal. The committee is concerned that the government is far behind on aspects of land claims implementation, for example, new wildlife legislation and economic measures.

Goal two is healthy, educated people living in safe communities, who are able to contribute and take advantage of life's opportunities. In light of this goal, the committee is especially concerned that the government appears to have made little progress in implementing the social agenda. A specific issue mentioned in our Report on the Review of the Draft 2005-2006 Main Estimates is fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and the need for a coordinated approach and increased profile across government.

Goal three is well-governed, sustainable communities and regions able to fulfill their potential. As we heard from delegates at the April 2005 Circle of Northern Leaders meeting in Inuvik, budgets for community programs have not kept pace with increasing costs and in many cases have been cut. Our capital program has also not been sufficient to keep up with community infrastructure needs. The committee hopes that government will make it a priority to put any new revenues from the Northern Strategy and resource revenue sharing toward rectifying this situation.

Goal four is a diversified economy that provides northerners with opportunities and choices. To ensure its future viability, the Northwest Territories needs a diversified economy that does not rely on a single mega-project or industry for its sustainability. The committee urges the government not to neglect smaller sectors such as tourism and fisheries as it pursues development of larger industries such as mining and oil and gas.

Goal five is care and protection of natural environment. The committee looks forward to an increased profile for this goal with the creation of the new Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Greenhouse gas emissions, environmental safety and contaminated sites are areas of special concern for committee members.

Restructuring Of The GNWT's Internal Human Resource Services To Provide A More Efficient And Accountable System

The committee supported the government's initiative to centralize human resource services, and will continue to monitor its implementation to ensure it does result in a more efficient and accountable system.

A Reconsideration Of Past Reports And Recommendations On The GNWT's Affirmative Action Policy

Members believe that a reconsideration of past reports on the affirmative action policy is timely given the recent restructuring of the GNWT's human resource services and the opportunities this will create to revise our policies and ensure their consistent application across the government.

Division Of The Department Of Resources, Wildlife And Economic Development

The committee was pleased that the government moved quickly on this initiative and that the division of the department is now for the most part complete. Members appreciated the Minister's willingness to consider their suggestions throughout the planning stages.

A Review Of All GNWT Boards And Agencies

Two members of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight are participating in a Joint Cabinet/AOC Committee on Boards and Agencies. The joint committee has advanced a great deal of work on data gathering and preparing a new governance framework for boards and agencies, including a policy on boards and agencies. The committee is pleased with the

progress made to date and the joint Cabinet/AOC approach to this initiative.

A Review Of The Operations And Mandate Of The NWT Housing Corporation, Including The Rent Scales For Social Housing

Effective April 1, 2005, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has assumed the oversight responsibility for the delivery of social housing programs in the Northwest Territories and will be taking over responsibility for the actual delivery on April 1, 2006. The department is presently finalizing their income security policy framework, which will provide a lens for the redesign of any income security program like social housing. Members will have an opportunity to review any proposed rent scale and social housing program adjustments as part of the next business planning cycle.

The NWT Housing Corporation mandate has changed as a result of the transfer of social housing, and it is in the process of developing its new mandate for committee review at the same time as the 2006-2009 business plans.

An Operational Review Of The Workers' Compensation Board And Completion Of The Amendments To The Legislation

The committee is pleased that the Auditor General for Canada will be conducting a performance audit on the Workers' Compensation Board in response to Motion 31-15(3) on March 10, 2005, which was supported by AOC members. The committee looks forward to reviewing the Auditor General's report, which is expected sometime in the spring of 2006.

Members are concerned that they have heard little from government about the status of the rewrite of the Workers' Compensation Act, which is needed to address several outstanding issues and complete the work begun in the 14th Assembly. The committee expects that government will develop a bill in time for it to be considered during the life of this Assembly.

Consideration Of New Legislation To Protect Whistleblowers

The committee has not yet begun its work on this objective and will be pursuing it in the near future. Members believe consideration of such legislation may be timely because of national trends toward increased accountability expectations from the public service, most recently evidenced by the sponsorship scandal.

Consideration Of New Fiscal Responsibility Legislation

As we stated in our Report on the Review of the 2005-2006 Draft Main Estimates, Members are pleased that the government has moved forward with a new fiscal responsibility policy. The committee therefore considers this objective completed.

Review Of The Liquor Act

The committee looks forward to seeing the results of the consultations now underway by the Department of Finance and to reviewing a bill during the life of this Assembly.

Review Of The Residential Tenancies Act

The committee looks forward to seeing the response to the discussion paper recently released by the Department of Justice and to reviewing a bill during the life of this Assembly.

Cost/Benefit Analysis Of Business Incentive Policy

On March 31, 2004, the committee supported a motion on the spirit and intent of the business incentive policy, which resolved:

that the Government of the Northwest Territories use the spirit and intent of the business incentive policy to its fullest advantage in promoting and growing NWT-based businesses;

and further that the government undertake to conduct a comprehensive cost and benefit analysis of the business incentive policy and table it in the House during the fall 2004 sitting of the Legislative Assembly.The committee looks forward to considering the government's cost/benefit analysis of the business incentive policy.

Improving The Land Transfer Process And, In Particular, Accelerating Land Transfers To Municipalities

The committee is aware that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs -- MACA -- in partnership with other GNWT departments, is working toward a streamlined management system for transferring leases to fee simple title where appropriate, and for transferring municipal lands to municipal governments. MACA is actively negotiating land administration agreements with municipal governments in areas where land claims have been settled.

MACA is also now in year two of a three-year initiative to establish an administration of territorial lands system -- ATLAS -- which will provide accurate graphic and written information on each parcel of land within community boundaries.

Madam Speaker, I turn the rest of the report over to my colleague, Mr. Hawkins.