Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 03/00) - On the last day possible, the territorial government approved a mini-budget to keep the government running until July.

The interim appropriation, as it is known, provides $336,247,944 to be used until the budget for the 2000-2001 fiscal year is approved, expected some time in June or July.

Premier Stephen Kakfwi, mindful of criticism cabinet came under for increasing its budget at a time of restraint, said Thursday he had instructed that $100,000 be cut from the executive's budget in the interim appropriation.

But it was regular MLAs who did the chopping on another request for money to cover spending already done this fiscal year.

In its supplementary appropriation, the government asked for $3,781,500 for unexpected expenses.

Supplementary appropriations are a normal part of government budgeting. Money for them is taken from a special fund set aside for the purpose.

After discussion of the request, Yellowknife Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent suggested that $160,000 be cut from the $1 million that would have been provided for cabinet operations.

All regular members except Yellowknife Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee voted for the cut. Lee voted against it. All seven members of cabinet abstained.

Visions and goals

In the making since this government took office, an outline of the government's priorities for the coming four years was released March 31.

The document, entitled Toward a Better Tomorrow, outlines the broad vision of the government, its priorities and specific targets for the coming four years.

The government's first goal and priority is to foster a population of "Healthy, educated individuals making responsible choices for themselves and their families."

In the short term, the government says it will provide "one-stop shopping" access to a comprehensive network of support programs for community-based wellness, housing that is adequate, affordable and suitable, and public funds for those who can't help themselves.

Our biggest customer

The territorial government billed the Government of Nunavut for approximately $30 million in contracted services this fiscal year.

That statistic was the next-to-bottom line of a detailed breakdown of services requested by Thebacha MLA Michael Miltenberger.

The $30 million includes $10 million in services the NWT government provided through sub-contractors. The territorial government estimated the contracts amount to about 31 full-time jobs.

Call for audit defeated

Regular members of the legislative assembly lost a bid Friday to have the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development audited by the Auditor General of Canada.

The motion, initiated by Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Floyd Roland Wednesday, was debated for hours Friday.

Cabinet members said the audit was a bad idea, considering the department is now dealing with critical issues such as resource revenue sharing, new oil and gas development and the development of a secondary diamond industry.

Regular members said those issues make it important to do an audit now. An independent review of the department would identify better ways it could carry on its business and determine whether it is properly meeting the sometimes contrary goals of economic development and environmental protection.

The initial vote on the motion was tied at 8-8, with the six cabinet ministers present receiving support of regular members Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod and Yellowknife Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee.

Speaker Tony Whitford broke the tie, defeating the motion.