Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. The members of the Standing Committee on Government Operations met with the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat on April 1, 2008, to review the Draft Main Estimates for 2008 and 2009.
Committee members made note that the secretariat is proposing to spend $72,000,023 in operations expense in the fiscal year ’08–09 and $7.5 million on capital projects in the fiscal year 2008–2009. The committee notes that the housing operation expenditures include the contributions to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation operational budget.
Committee members offer the following comments and issues arising out of the review of the 2008–2009 Draft Main Estimates:
Audit Bureau
Given the oversight function of the FMBS in terms of business conduct of all GNWT departments, the committee is very concerned about the ongoing vacancy rate of almost 50 per cent within the Audit Bureau. The committee urges the government to address these recruitment and retention issues in a timely fashion in order to ensure that the internal audit mandate and functions can be fulfilled. Necessary steps may include a review of how business within the Audit Bureau is conducted and if there are alternate means to fulfill the Audit Bureau’s mandate and functions.
Power Subsidy Program
Members expressed their concern about the rising costs of the Power Subsidy Program and urge the government to take measures to increase cost efficiency and improve the program delivery overall.
That concludes our comments on the FMBS, Mr. Chair. I’d just like to thank the Minister and his staff, as well as our committee staff, Patricia Russell and Regina Pfeifer.