Thank you, Madam Chair. The change in Members' pension expense is an increase to $340,000, and the change is a result of the changes in membership resulting from the election. The new membership and lower discount rate increased liability, which resulted in an increase to the pension expense.
Debates of March 9th, 2021
This is page numbers 2383 - 2438 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.
Topics
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Wickens
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. It's not as if anybody is going to get a pension increase, then. This is, as I remember, a defined benefit pension. It's just that we have more members that are eligible to draw down now. That's what's happened here. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Wickens
Thank you, Madam Chair. No, this does not raise the pension benefits for Members. The contribution ensures that pension plans are funded to a level to meet current and future needs of the Assembly pension plan.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you. Are there any further questions on expenditures on behalf of Members? Seeing none, please turn to page 9, Legislative Assembly, expenditures on behalf of Members, operations expenditures summary, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $9,957,000. Does committee agree?
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you. We will now turn to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, beginning on page 10, with information items on page 12. Questions? Member for Yellowknife North.
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Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chair. I understand that funding for the Chief Electoral Office is somewhat cyclical. If we look in 2019-2020, an election year, it's $1,486,000, and then from year to year, it's about $500 million. However, I see that there is an increase here. Can I just get an explanation why there is an increase outside of an election year? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you. I'll turn this over to Ms. Wickens.
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Wickens
Thank you, Madam Chair. The increase in the expenses for the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer is a result of staffing. They are hiring an elections administer as well as a deputy chief electoral officer to begin to staff the office to prepare for the election in 2023.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chair. It is kind of: we slowly bring on positions to build back up to that number, and then we go down again. Do we have any kind of projections for what next year looks like that could be provided to Members? Thank you, Madam Chair.
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Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you. As mentioned, we look to have the deputy officer for Chief Electoral Officer and also administrative staff. I'll see if Ms. Wickens would like to add anything. Thank you.
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Wickens
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Chief Electoral Officer has identified that there will be increases in both the staff for next year and as well as an increase to prepare for the election, which will include currently right now the systems are hibernation. There will be more money put to those next fiscal, as well.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you. Are there any further questions under the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer? Seeing none, please turn to page 11, Legislative Assembly, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, operations expenditure summary, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $514,000. Does committee agree?
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
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The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you. We will now go to the Office of the Clerk, beginning on page 13, with information items up to page 16. Questions? Member for Yellowknife North.
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Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chair. I see there is approximately a $600,000 increase to contract services. Can I have an explanation of what that is for?
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Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll turn this over to Ms. Wickens.