Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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. A progress report followed on June 2, 2005.
The third annual workshop took place in Fort Simpson from April 10 to 12, 2006. This report summarizes our progress on priorities as we see it. It also outlines changes we have made to our priorities, including the adoption of a new priority: adequate support for frontline organizations.
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:
- review issues which have government-wide implications, including the overview of the budget and fiscal framework;
- 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;
- consider the budgets and financial management of any other boards and agencies that are outside the responsibility of any standing committee;
- 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;
- review government reports on financial and performance results on program and policy evaluations to ensure anticipated outcomes are being achieved and accountability is maximized;
- review, as necessary or appropriate, the annual and other reports of statutory offices 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 Commission;
- coordinate House business, scheduling and planning in cooperation with appropriate Cabinet representatives; and,
- 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.
The Standing Committee accomplishes this through a number of regular activities and, in particular, the annual review of the government's draft business plans. In the fall of 2005, the committee implemented the first ever pre-budget consultations, which added a new element of public input into the planning and accountability for government use of resources.
The committee also holds government accountable through its input on policy, program and legislative initiatives, by organizing theme days on various topics, and by formal motions in the Assembly directing the government to take specific actions.
The committee continues to see our constitutional evolution and the negotiation of a fair devolution and resource revenue sharing deal for our territory as key to achieving our collective vision, and continues to support the principle that the people of the Northwest Territories should be the primary beneficiaries of the development of our resources.
Mr. Speaker, at this time I would now like to pass on the rest of the report to Mr. Braden. Thank you.