Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Financial Summary
The Office of the Director of the Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Adjudication panel each has its own operations budget provided through the Legislative Assembly’s appropriation. These items are not included in the Commission’s financial statements and total approximately $1.17 million for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
The budget for the Human Rights Commission is reviewed and approved by the Legislative Assembly’s Board of Management and provided through an operating grant. The commission’s Statement of General Operations for the year ended March 31, 2015 shows:
In 2014-2015, the total amount of this grant was increased by $100,000 to $350,000 from the previous year;
This additional funding was provided to offset consulting costs associated with the comprehensive review of the Human Rights Act. This appears as expenses for contracts administration for the commission, which totalled $101,790 compared with the previous year’s figure of $5,943 for contracts;
The contribution amount returns to $250,000 in subsequent fiscal years;
In previous years’ reports, the figure for total revenues included the total operating grant less expense reimbursement. This year, the figure for expense reimbursement is not included in the Statement of General Operations;
Total expenses increased by $128,031 which equals 63 per cent;
Notably, legal expenses were down by $56,541 equivalent to 68 per cent; and
Revenue over expenses totalled $19,643, leaving the commission with a surplus again in 2014-2015.
Mr. Speaker, I would like you to hand this back to Mr. Testart.