Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee met with the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board on September 19, 2006, to review the draft business plan for the Financial Management Board Secretariat.

Committee members noted that the Financial Management Board Secretariat is proposing to spend $18.626 million in operations expense for the fiscal year 2007-2008. This represents a slight increase of $343,000 since the main estimates in 2006-2007. The secretariat is also proposing to spend $7.5 million on capital projects in fiscal year 2007-2008 for the replacement of the government wide financial information system, or FIS.

The committee offers the following comments:

Growth Of The Public Service

Members have repeatedly expressed concerns regarding the growth of the public service, especially with the recent news that the NWT's population may be decreasing. The creation of new positions that do not provide front-line services is of particular concern.

Members recognize that at this point in the life of the 15th Legislative Assembly, it is too late to conduct a full review of the GNWT workforce. However, we believe that the next government should consider undertaking a zero-based review of GNWT positions early in its mandate.

Recommendation

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight recommends that the government include in its transition document a recommendation that the next government undertake a zero-based review of public service positions early in its mandate.

Madam Chair, to complete the committee's report, I would turn the balance of it over to the Member for Monfwi. Thank you, Madam Chair.