Members of the Accountability and Oversight committee had an opportunity to meet with the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board on September 28, 2005, to review the draft business plan for the secretariat.
Members also received a briefing from the Minister of Finance on January 17, 2006, outlining the changes to the budget for FMBS since the committee reviewed the draft business plan in September.
Committee members made note that the secretariat is proposing to spend $18.283 million in operations expense in fiscal year 2006-2007, and $500,000 on capital projects in fiscal year 2006-2007.
Members also note that FMBS has undergone a significant organizational change, with the creation of a stand-alone human resource department.
Committee members offer the following comments on issues arising out of the review of the 2006-2007 Draft Main Estimates and budget-planning cycle.
Contract Registry
During the review of FMBS's draft business plan, the committee had the opportunity to raise the possibility of moving the contract registry from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment to the Financial Management Board Secretariat.
The committee notes a number of reasons to support transferring the contract registry program. First, some Members note that the secretariat's establishment policy clearly states, "the chairman of the Financial Management Board shall have charge of and be responsible for developing financial and contract policies, systems and procedures required in support of government operations." The committee further remarked that the secretariat's 2006-2009 draft business plan notes that expenditure and procurement management is being considered for delivery through the 'service centre' concept. Finally, the committee points to a recent report on best practices for public procurement that recommends FMBS would be the better suited to oversee the contract registry.
Recommendation
The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight recommends that the Financial Management Board Secretariat work with Industry, Tourism and Investment to consider the option of moving the contract registry from ITI to FMBS and report back to the committee on the pros and cons of this move during the next business planning cycle.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. That's all I have to report.