Thank you, Madam Chair. Over the last few months Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly have been working hard on a compressed 2012-13 planning schedule.
This included the review of departmental 2012-13 business plans in April and consideration of the 2012-13 Main Estimates in Committee of the Whole during the Third Session.
As part of their review, Members of this House have recommended amendments to the 2012-13 budget.
The Financial Management Board has considered these recommendations. Based on our discussions, we are prepared to make the following adjustments:
With respect to the Department of Finance:• $250,000 will be transferred from the
Consolidated Revenue Fund to the Heritage Fund. Although this transfer is being made in advance of a final Devolution Agreement, this small contribution will confirm to NWT residents that investing in our future is a priority of the 17
th Assembly.
With respect to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs:• Funding in the amount of $200,000 associated
with delivery of the Ground Ambulance Program scheduled to sunset on March 31, 2012, will be reinstated.
With respect to the Department of Health and Social Services:• $900,000 to enhance prevention and
promotion programs in 2012-13.• $367,000 to continue to support initiatives that support the design and implementation of phase 3 programming and evaluation of past activities of the Family Violence Action Plan.
With respect to the Department of Justice:• $47,000 for the establishment of an additional
legal aid family lawyer to help reduce the wait times for family law clients. Better than Christmas.• $215,000 for the implementation of an alcohol
and drug treatment program at the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre.• $49,000 to continue to support initiatives that
support the design and implementation of phase 3 programming and evaluation of past activities of the Family Violence Action Plan.
With respect to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources:• $1.7 million to increase funding for alternative
energy initiatives. The allocation of this funding will be reviewed by the Ministerial Energy Coordinating and Climate Change Committee of Cabinet over the next few months. The committee will meet with the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure in September 2012 to review the allocation of these funds.
Also, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment will be announcing an additional $1.250 million to enhance early childhood development programming in 2012-13. The department will re-profile its existing budget to fund this important investment in our children.
Also, with respect to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, the proposed staffing of an NWT permafrost scientist will be delayed until the second half of the fiscal year. The department will lapse the budgeted funds not expended as a result of this delay.
The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation will delay full implementation of the seniors rent component of the new public housing rent scale until September 1, 2012.
I will follow through with these commitments in the Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013, which will be tabled in the House within the next few days.
Finally, Madam Chair, I think this is an example of consensus government working. Thank you.