We need another fund and we need it for the communities that are going to be impacted. I'd like to ask the Premier, will he negotiate with the federal government a subsequent fund to look after socio-economic impacts in the other communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I'll certainly discuss it with Cabinet, but I'll tell you my instinct is that let's stay focused on getting a fair deal on resource revenues and resource revenue sharing. Let's not start throwing out other pots that we want to negotiate at this time. I think this is the time to focus. It's the time to work together on this and get our fair share and that is at least 50 percent of that $224 million or more that's being made off our land right now, and make sure we have that before that pipeline is built. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Written questions. The Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

I'm suffering from Mr. Menicoche's problem here. Nope.

Written questions. Returns to written questions. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. First reading of bills. The Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 22, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2006-2007, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 22 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 22, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2006-2007, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2006-2007 fiscal year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 22 has had second reading and is referred to Committee of the Whole. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 21, Committee Reports 7, 8, 9 and 10, and Bill 22. By the authority given the Speaker by Motion 22-15(5), Committee of the Whole may sit beyond the hour of adjournment until it is prepared to report, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Bill 21, Appropriation Act, 2007-2008, specifically dealing with the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Human Resources and Legislative Assembly. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Is the committee agreed?

Agreed. Thank you. Then we'll do that after a brief break.

---SHORT RECESS

Okay, I would like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. Members, we are dealing first with the Financial Management Board Secretariat. I would like to ask Minister Roland if he would please deliver the opening comments.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present the Financial Management Board Secretariat's Main Estimates for the fiscal year 2007-08.

The secretariat's 2007-08 Main Estimates propose O and M expenditure levels of $69.836 million. This is an

increase of $14.725 million, which represents a 21 percent increase over the 2006-07 Main Estimates.

The adjustments to the secretariat's budget are related to the following:

1. an increase of $337,000 related to the revisions to the Collective Agreement for the 2007-08 fiscal year;
2. an increase of $20,000 for amortization expense;
3. an increase of $14.382 million to the contribution funding provided to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, NWTHC. As was reported during the October-November 2006 session, FMBS has no direct authority over NWT Housing Corporation funding other than providing the NWT Housing Corporation with its operating cash flow.

In support of the planned replacement of the government's financial information system, the secretariat's proposed capital acquisition plan includes an allocation of $7.5 million in the 2007-08 fiscal year. With FMBS leadership, a number of GNWT departments will be involved in the selection and implementation of the new financial information system.

An assessment of the government's management practices is currently being undertaken in an effort to identify and prioritize areas that may require corporate and departmental attention in upcoming planning periods.

FMBS will continue initiatives to strengthen and standardize management activities, including:

1. the review of the Financial Administration Act;
2. the reform and modernization of the Financial Administration Manual; and
3. the planning for the establishment of financial shared services centres.

That concludes my opening remarks. I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister Roland. At this time, I will ask Mr. Braden if he would please deliver the AOC response to FMB's budget. Mr. Braden.

Financial Management Board Secretariat

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.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Lafferty.

Funding To Front-Line Organizations