Thank you, committee. Page 2-13, activity summary, Executive. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just one more question and I don’t know, I guess I could ask it on this page but… Well, actually, I’ll wait until we get back to operations expenditure summary, Mr. Chairman. It fits better there so I’ll wait.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. We are on operations expenditure summary, page 2-13, activity summary, directorate, $839,000. Mr. Ramsay.

I guess it relates to this, too, so I’ll ask it. In that contract registry and reporting system it shows $1.238 million under contracted services. Now, I know there’s only a portion of it that shows up there, but under the operations expenditure listing for the department, that number is $1.224 million. So we’re about $14,000 out, and I’m just wondering why the actuals that show up in the 2008-09 Main Estimates in this book don’t correlate with the contract registry. It’s out by about $14,000, and I’m just wondering why that is.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Minister Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the general operations and maintenance, under contracts, I’m trying to get further detail on that. We have contract services of $902,000 where he’s going back to 2008-09 actuals of $1.224 million. I’d have to get that information. I’d have to get the details on the difference there of what’s actuals versus what’s in the contracts

registry department. The contracts registry area, the report is developed by ITI, I believe. Thank you.

I don’t need an explanation today, but I’m just wondering why that number wouldn’t be almost exactly like the one that’s in the contract amount under the Department of Executive for that year, 2008-09, and in the main estimates here under 2008-09, under actual. It’s out, like I said, by about $14,000, $15,000. But I can get that information later. It’s fine. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. I understand the Minister will be getting back to you with that information.

Thank you, committee. Page 2-13, activity summary, directorate, operations expenditure summary, Department of Executive, $839,000.

Page 2-14, activity summary, Executive, directorate, grants and contributions, grants, $150,000.

Contributions, $35,000. Total grants and contributions, $185,000. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m just wondering, again, this isn’t in this year’s budget, but under the contract registry there are two items for food catering for NAWS II. One’s for NAWS II and the other one is for NAWS II feast. That totals about $70,000. I’m just wondering what event did we cater that cost $70,000. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Premier Roland.

I’m trying to do 300 into $70,000 real quick. It seems like a very expensive undertaking, but is it the department’s practice to book expenses like this under contracted services? I can see another department perhaps doing it, but I’m just wondering, it doesn’t seem like the right fit under the Department of Executive, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Just for clarity, are we on page 2-14, grants and contributions.

I like to think so, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. I’ll let the Premier respond.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the National Aboriginal Summit was because under the Executive we have the native women’s and our women’s groups and support through the Department of Executive. An agreement was entered into to host a second conference. The contract, as highlighted, would have been for the whole series of meals provided through that conference. It wasn’t just one or two meals, but it wrapped up with a feast. So it was, I believe, in total would have been about three days for arrivals and then departures and supporting that conference. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Committee, once again, we’re on page 2-14, activity summary, directorate, grants and contributions, grants, $150,000; contributions, $35,000; total grants and contributions, $185,000.

Page 2-15, information item, Department of Executive, directorate, active positions. Questions?