David Ramsay

Page 5-34, Finance, information item, work performed on behalf of others.

I don’t need an explanation today, but I’m just wondering why that number wouldn’t be almost exactly like the one that’s in the contract amount under the Department of Executive for that year, 2008-09, and in the main estimates here under 2008-09, under actual. It’s out, like I said, by about $14,000, $15,000. But I can get that information later. It’s fine. Thanks.

Page 5-15, Finance, activity summary, information item, deputy minister’s office, active positions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to follow up on a return to written question asked by my colleague from Weledeh, Mr. Bob Bromley, on October 26, 2009. I have some very deep concerns about this government’s relentless pursuit of sole-sourcing contracts.

I would welcome former employees, senior managers, and deputy ministers to bid on contracts with the Government of the Northwest Territories. My difficulty is when contracts are handed over to former senior staff on what would appear to be a silver platter.

Is there not something wrong with a deputy minister who is relieved of their duties...

Thank you, Mr. Minister, and we’ll ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses in. Does committee agree?

Page 5-32, Finance, information item, Liquor Revolving Fund.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just one more question and I don’t know, I guess I could ask it on this page but… Well, actually, I’ll wait until we get back to operations expenditure summary, Mr. Chairman. It fits better there so I’ll wait.

Page 5-13, Finance, activity summary, deputy minister’s office, operations expenditure summary, $41.921 million.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m just, again, wondering -- and I believe I’ve asked this question before -- one of the other six budgets, the Women’s Advisory, now I know it plays an important role in what we do here, but, again, I just have trouble understanding why we keep it under this area of the Department of Executive and why it wouldn’t go to the department of let’s say Health and Social Services or let’s say ECE. It certainly doesn’t belong under the Department of Executive. I think if you’re going to give it the support and push that it needs, I think it’s got to be under one of the...

Thank you, Ms. Melhorn. Mr. Bromley, anything further? Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Thanks, committee. We’re on page 5-29, office of the chief information officer, operations expenditure summary, $1.777 million.