Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses to committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to my immediate right, I have Mr. David Stewart. He’s the deputy minister of Finance. To my far right, Tara Hunter, who is the director of Management Service and Recruitment. To my left, I have Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar, who is the deputy secretary to the FMB. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Welcome to the witnesses. We open the floor to general comments from committee. Do we have any general comments on the Department of Finance? Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning made one recommendation to the department, which was to complete the mandate commitment to lower the taxes on small businesses, and that was in the amount of 1 per cent. Apart from that, the overall operation of the department is complex.

The amalgamation of human resources was a source of concern. As again, these amalgamations are being motivated by cost savings rather than operational efficiencies. Committee wants to ensure that we’re making the best possible organizational changes that are going to benefit the public and also the public service.

A lot of the policies in the Department of Finance are exceedingly complex. In fact, typically our public account scores one of the lowest marks for transparency in Canada. It would be a wonderful thing if we could make this information as transparent and understandable to the average Northerner as possible. I think that is still something we need to work on as a government.

The source of that understanding will have to come from this department. We will continue to do our work and reviewing how we can make this complex financial information more understandable. We’ll continue to fight for tax competiveness in Canada’s North as well. With that, that concludes my comments. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Anything further from committee, as far as opening comments? Mr. O’Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. As we go through the pages here, I’ll have some comments on the revenues that we get as a government. Particularly with regard to tobacco tax license -- or, sorry, liquor revenues -- and how that compares to mining, oil, and gas royalty resource revenues that we’re able to keep now under the devolution agreement.

I have some suggestions about different forms of taxes that I’ll make to try to make sure that we capture more of the benefits of that. I’ll also be asking the Minister about any progress we’re making on indexing the Northern Resident Tax Deduction. I guess I’ll have some questions about some ongoing negotiations as well when we get to the human resources section of the amalgamated department. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for the preview, Mr. O’Reilly. Seeing nothing further, we will move into consideration of the activities. The first activity can be found on pages 131 to 134. That is directorate. This is activity one of five; this is an $84 million activity. Comments or questions from committee on directorate, pages 131 to 134? Mr. O’Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I’m looking at page 132, and this is the Northwest Territories Power Corporation snare hydro system. I know that, in the last couple of years, we’ve had to provide extra subsidies to the Power Corporation in terms of low water levels. How is it looking this year, Mr. Chair? Sorry, I’m just wondering what the water levels are looking like and whether there is any expectation that the Department of Finance is going to have to provide additional funding to the Power Corporation? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, earlier indications are that the water levels should be fine this year, and hopefully that holds true; then we won’t have to provide more money for low water levels.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O’Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Good news. I thank the Minister for that. I have no further questions, thanks.

Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Mr. McNeely.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is on 132, program detail on the bottom there, other program costs, $6,000,077. I just want a little explanation on what is defined as "other"? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Mr. Stewart.

Thank you, Mr. Stewart. Nothing further from Mr. McNeely. Seeing no further comments or questions. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regards, I see office of the Chief Information Officer has an increase. Could the Minister explain why we have an increase in this area? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Stewart.

Thank you, Mr. Stewart. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the deputy minister for his answer. Just to follow up on honourable Member from Sahtu, when we talk about other program costs, is there a rationale for it being split up, or why couldn’t we just put it into the areas that it should have been put in? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, Mr. Chair, I can understand the Member’s question because it does leave itself open for question when you use the word "other." I think we made a commitment in the past that we’re staying away from the word "other" and we were going to break it up and have that money specifically allocated to be different. I will make that commitment that we will remove the word "other."