Work performed on behalf of others, information item. Any questions?

Members, could you please return to page 417. Public Works and Services, department total, $120.750 million.

Do Members agree that this concludes the consideration of main estimates for the Department of Public Works and Services?

Thank you, Minister Beaulieu, and thank you to your officials for joining us here today. I’ll ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

I would like to ask Speaker Jacobson if he would please provide his opening remarks for consideration of the budget for the Legislative Assembly. Speaker Jacobson.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present the 2015-2016 estimates for the Legislative Assembly. I would like

to thank the members of the Board of Management for their assistance and input on this budget.

The Assembly is seeking an expenditure appropriation of $21.175 million. This represents an increase of $2.186 million, or 11.5 percent, from the 2014-2015 Main Estimates of $18.99 million.

While this is a significant increase from the 2014-2015 operations budget, additional funding is something that we need every four years in order to hold the next territorial election and for preparing and moving on to the next Assembly.

I can assure Members that these estimates continue to support the objective of limiting expenditure growth in order to sustain the long-term fiscal framework of our government.

Madam Chair, we have entered the final year of the 17th Assembly and, for my office, this is the last

operations budget for this Assembly.

During this Assembly we have appointed and supported the Electoral Boundaries Commission and the Independent Commission to Review Members’ Compensation and Benefits.

In 2013 we celebrated the 20th anniversary of this

great building and burned the mortgage papers in recognition of the Assembly assuming ownership.

It has also been a time of change and improvement in how we deliver services to our Members and manage the operations of the Assembly. Authority for the administration of Ministers’ benefits was transferred to the Assembly at the beginning of this Assembly, and we also moved to an in-house security model to ensure consistent and quality services and the safety of all.

We also undertook projects to make our building more accessible, consulting with the NWT Disabilities Council and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

The time has now come to begin preparations for the transition to the 18th Assembly.

This will include providing the funding needed by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer to undertake the next territorial General Election. I would note that the budget proposed for the 2015 General Election has increased only slightly from the budget that was approved for the 2011 General Election.

This coming fiscal year we are also planning on improvements to how we accommodate and support several of our statutory offices and the important work that they do.

We are proposing a move to a shared-services model for the Languages Commissioner, Access to Information and Privacy Commissioner and Human Rights Adjudication Panel. This model will see their respective offices existing together in a single storefront location and being supported by dedicated and qualified staff.

In closing, I want to thank all Members, my colleagues on the Board of Management and the Assembly staff for their contributions and their efforts in working towards the efficient operations and delivery of quality services for the Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This concludes my opening remarks. I am pleased to respond to any questions Members may have.

Thank you, Speaker Jacobson. At this time I’ll ask the Speaker if he would like to bring witnesses into the Chamber.

Yes, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Speaker Jacobson. Does the committee agree?

Thank you. I’ll ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses to the table.

Speaker Jacobson, for the record, could you please introduce your witnesses.

To my left I have Mr. Darrin Ouellette, director of corporate services, and to my right I have the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Tim Mercer.

Thank you, Speaker Jacobson. General comments. Any general comments on the budget of the Legislative Assembly? Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a general comment and I guess I’d call it a question. What is the change in costs? We’ve switched security over to an internal mechanism as opposed to a contract fee. What was the previous cost and what is the estimated cost now?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Speaker Jacobson.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ll ask Mr. Ouellette.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Ouellette.

Thank you, Mr. Ouellette. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you. Is the change in cost just strictly focusing on the benefits, or has there

been any change in the format of how security has been provided?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Speaker Jacobson.

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, just the better services, I guess, for our style of security for the Members and I guess for the whole building. I guess it’s more accurate. Having our own security services is a lot better than an outside source.