Thank you. Does committee agree that consideration of Tabled Document 104-15(5) is concluded?

Thank you, committee. Thank you, Mr. Minister, Mr. Rodgers, Mr. Doyle and Mr. Triggs, for being with us this afternoon. Much appreciated. Thank you. Thank you, committee. The chair is going to call a short break. Thank you.

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Good afternoon. I will call Committee of the Whole back to order. We are now going over the Department of Executive. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the Executive, the Honourable Joseph Handley, if he has opening remarks. Mr. Handley.

I am pleased to present the 2007-2008 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive.

For 2007-2008, the Department of Executive is requesting a budget of $13.616 million, which represents a .3 percent, or $36,000, decrease from the 2006-2007 Main Estimates.

The Department of Executive 2007-2008 Main Estimates identifies increases totalling $529,000 as follows:

• • forced growth salary increases and northern allowance resulting from the UNW Collective Agreement in the amount of $339,000 - third year;
• • a forced growth increase of $76,000 to fund the improvement of financial services support; and
• • a transfer of $100,000 from DAAIR to Executive to fund the Beaufort-Delta capacity building initiative.

The amalgamation of all human resource services activities into one central agency and the subsequent creation of the new Department of Human Resources -- DHR -- requires the addition of one finance and administration clerk in the financial shared services section of the Department of Executive. This section provides financial services to the Executive, FMBS, DAAIR and DHR. The addition of a significant number of employees who once provided human resource service delivery in each department has added to the volume and complexity of transactions that are processed by the Department of Executive's financial shared services section. In addition, this section now processes all medical travel claims; claims that used to be processed in each department.

Reductions

These increases are offset by the $565,000 proposed funding reductions:

• • sunsetting of the senior advisor, Mackenzie gas project impact fund, $185,000;
• • reduction in funding required to support the 2006 National Census, $50,000;
• • a reduction in the cost for leased office space in Norman Wells in the amount of $30,000, which is being transferred to Public Works and Services; and
• • reduction of one-time funding required to establish and staff four new regional director offices, $300,000.

The Executive has completed the establishment of full-time regional offices in the Beaufort-Delta, Inuvik; the Sahtu, Norman Wells; the Deh Cho, Fort Simpson; South Slave, Fort Smith; and North Slave, Yellowknife. The regional directors now provide an important focal point both for local and aboriginal government and the general public to address issues of concern on overall government matters. The regional directors also assist in coordinating GNWT activities in the regions as they pertain to relationships with other governments and the public and regarding government initiatives that have an interdepartmental focus.

Regional management committees will determine initiatives supported by the Mackenzie gas pipeline impact fund and regional directors from the Department of Executive will represent GNWT's interests on those committees.

I am now prepared to answer any questions committee members may have. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. I would now like to call on the chair of the AOC committee, the standing committee that reviewed the Executive. Mr. Lafferty.

Department Of Executive

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. The committee met with the Premier on September 28, 2006, to review the draft business plan for the Department of Executive.

The committee noted that the Department of Executive is proposing to spend $13.161 million in operations expense for the fiscal year 2007-2008. This represents a small decrease of $36,000 from last year's main estimates.

Committee members offer the following comments on issues arising out of the review of the 2007/2008 Draft Main Estimates and budget-planning cycle:

Joint Boards And Agencies Review Initiative

Early in the life of the 15th Assembly, Cabinet and the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight had agreed to form a working group to review the NWT boards and agencies. As a result of this successful collaboration, a boards and agencies policy was adopted in June 2005. The full implementation of this policy will significantly change the mandates/operations of existing boards, as it will establish a governance framework for board operations, provide criteria for board classification and a process for creating new boards.

In 2005 the Joint Working Group on Boards and Agencies suggested that a boards and agencies unit be established to fulfill the mandate of the initiative by implementing the boards and agencies policy and the governance framework. Cost estimates to establish this function are $300,000 for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Mr. Chair, I will have a motion from the committee at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to bring in witnesses.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in, please. Agreed?

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Can you introduce your witnesses, please?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With me are Bob McLeod, deputy minister of the Executive and Carl Bird, director of corporate services for the Executive. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. General comments.

Detail. Thank you. Page 2-14, 2-15, activity summary, Executive offices, Commissioner's office, operations expenditure summary, $294,000.

Page 2-18, 2-19, Executive offices, activity summary, Ministers' offices, operations expenditure summary, $4.071 million.

Page 2-21, Executive offices, activity summary, Ministers' offices, grants and contributions, grants $173,000.