Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we are budgeting in a transition year, we have to make assumptions about how many Members will not be returning, and our assumptions have consistently been a turnover of about a third of Members in any given election. We always hope it is going to be less than that, but that is what we budget for. The transition allowance payments that we budget for assume that two first-term Members will not be returning, that two two-term Members will not be returning, and that two three-term Members or two Ministers will not be returning. So, if the turnover tends to be more than six Members or if it is six Members who have long service, the budgeted amount will not be enough and we will need to find the funding, as we did in 2015, from other sources or through supplementary appropriation. If the turnover is less than six or if all that turnover occurs for Members who have served only four years, then that amount will be underspent. It is essentially a set of assumptions we have to work on, and we need to wait until the election date to see how it plays out. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Tim Mercer on Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on March 8th, 2019. See this statement in context.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th, 2019
Page 5311
Tim Mercer
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