Daily Sitting 55

Friday, May 18, 2001.

10 o'clock a.m.

Prayers.

Mr. Lee, from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, presented the First Report of the Committee for the session which was read and is as follows

May 18, 2001.

To the Honourable
The Legislative Assembly of
The Province of New Brunswick

Mr. Speaker:

I have the pleasure of presenting herewith the First Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

The report outlines the Committee's work since its appointment during the First Session of the Fifty-fourth Legislative Assembly.

The Committee wishes to thank the many government officials that appeared during the public sessions and wishes to acknowledge their cooperation in providing follow-up information.

And your Committee begs leave to make a further report.

(Sgd.:) Sheldon Lee, M.L.A. Chairman.

The full report of the Committee follows:

May, 2001.

To the Honourable
The Legislative Assembly of
The Province of New Brunswick.

Mr. Speaker:

Your Standing Committee on Public Accounts begs leave to submit this their First Report of the Third Session of the Fifty-fourth Legislative Assembly.

This report outlines the Committees's work since its appointment by resolution of the House on July 6, 1999.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

The Committee met on August 12, 1999. On the motion of Mr. Cosman, Mr. Lee was elected Chairman. On the motion of Mr. Steeves, Mr. Jordan was elected Vice-Chair.

1999 Report of the Auditor General

On December 7, 1999, the Committee met jointly with the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations to receive and review the 1999 Report of the Auditor General of New Brunswick.

Auditor General Daryl Wilson appeared before the Committees to outline the contents of the report and answer questions posed by Committee members.

Committee Hearings 2000

The Committee held eighteen days of public hearings in the Legislative Council Chamber during the months of January, February, March and September 2000, to consider departmental reports and to review the Public Accounts of the Province of New Brunswick for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999. The following officials appeared before the Committee and answered questions for the year under review:

January 27, 2000
Office of the Auditor General
Daryl Wilson, Auditor General
Kenneth D. Robinson, Deputy Auditor General
Office of the Comptroller
Edward L. Mehan, Comptroller
Michael Ferguson, Director of Account Services
Stephen Thompson, Director of Audit and Consulting Services
Department of Finance
John Mallory, Deputy Minister
Rick Phillips, Director, Financial and Administrative Services

January 28, 2000
Department of the Environment
Donald G. Dennison, Deputy Minister
Simon Caron, Director, Human Resources and Administration
Byron Jeffrey, Manager, Administration
Dean Mundee, Senior Policy Advisor
Perry Haines, Manager, Municipal Services Section

February 1, 2000
Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture
Georges Bouchard, Deputy Minister
Richard Burgess, Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance Infrastructure and Policy
Joanne Walker, Manager, Budget and Accounting Services
Paul LeBlanc, Executive Director, Corporate Services
Doug Holt, Director, Financial Programs

February 2, 2000
Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture
Georges Bouchard, Deputy Minister
Richard Burgess, Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance Infrastructure and Policy
Joanne Walker, Manager, Budget and Accounting Services
Paul LeBlanc, Executive Director, Corporate Services
Doug Holt, Director, Financial Programs

February 3, 2000
Department of Human Resources Development - N.B.
Karen Mann, Deputy Minister
Don Ferguson, Assistant Deputy Minister
Jack Brown, Director, Financial Services

February 4, 2000
Department of Transportation
David Johnstone, Deputy Minister
Darrell W. Manuel, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Engineer
Walter W. Steeves, Executive Director, Policy and Motor Vehicle
Dale Wilson, Executive Director, Administration and Vehicle Management

February 22, 2000
Office of the Auditor General*
Daryl Wilson, Auditor General
Kenneth D. Robinson, Deputy Auditor General
*(Review of Report of the Auditor General of New Brunswick, Volume II, 1999)

February 23, 2000
Department of Natural Resources and Energy
David MacFarlane, Deputy Minister
Donald E. Barnett, Assistant Deputy Minister, Minerals and Energy
Pam Breau, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services
Tom Reid, Assistant Deputy Minister, Renewable Resources

February 24, 2000
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Claire LePage, Deputy Minister
Roger Hunter, Director, Corporate Services
Edward E. Pratt, Assistant Deputy Minister, Production
Roland Cormier, Assistant Deputy Minister, Marketing and Rural Development
Dr. Michael Maloney, Director, Planning and Development
Department of Municipalities and Housing
T. Byron James, Deputy Minister
Dan Rae, Director, Financial Services

March 2, 2000
Department of Municipalities and Housing
T. Byron James, Deputy Minister
Jim Murphy, Director, Budget Services
Department of Supply and Services
G. Stephenson Wheatley, Deputy Minister
Rick Burnett, Director, Finance
Ashley Cummings, Executive Director, Design and Construction
Greg Cook, Executive Director, Facilities Management

March 3, 2000
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Paul Aucoin, Deputy Minister
Jean-Bernard Guignard, Acting Director, Finance and Administration
Kim Lipsett, Acting Director for Aquaculture Branch
Alfred Losier, Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry and Corporate Services

September 6, 2000
Department of Labour
Nora Kelly, Deputy Minister - Department of Training and Employment Development
Paul Blackmore, Assistant Deputy Minister
George Breau, Director, Financial Services
Pat Doherty, Executive Director, Departmental Services
Deborah Burns, Executive Director, Planning Services
Lyne Paquet, Budget Officer
André Ferlatte, Director of Apprenticeship and Certification
Michel Savoie, Senior Financial Officer
Labour and Employment Board
Eugene McGinley, Q.C. / Chairman
Nicole Bios, Chief Executive Officer
Rick Phillips, Director, Financial and Administrative Services
Executive Council Office
Jean-Guy Finn, Deputy Minister
Rick Phillips, Director, Financial and Administrative Services
Department of Solicitor General
Don Dennison, Deputy Minister - Department of Public Safety
Michel Thériault, Assistant Deputy Minister, Community and Correctional Services
Brian Alexander, Assistant Deputy Minister, Law Enforcement
Brian Wilkins, Director, Financial Services
Department of Justice
Roger Bilodeau, Deputy Minister
Suzanne Bonnell-Burley, Assistant Deputy Minister
Gerard Doucet, Assistant Deputy Minister
Raymond McLaughlin, Director, Financial Services
Neil Foreman, Executive Director, Administrative Services

September 7, 2000
New Brunswick Police Commission
Peter Seheult, Acting Chairman
Rick Phillips, Director, Financial and Administrative Services
Youth Council of New Brunswick
Anthony Knight, Acting Executive Director
Premier's Council on the Status of Disabled Persons
Randy Dickinson, Executive Director
Legislative Assembly
Loredana Catalli Sonier, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Peter Wolters, Director, Finance and Human Resources

September 12, 2000
Department of Education
Raymond Daigle, Deputy Minister
Robin Roe, Deputy Minister
Elizabeth Abraham, Acting Deputy Minister
Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission
John Crossley, Chairman
Carmelita Boivin Cole, Chief Executive Officer
Deanna Brewer, Senior Finance Officer
Mireille Duguay, Director of Research and Academic Planning
Office of the Premier
Barbra Winsor, Deputy Minister
Rick Phillips, Director, Financial and Administrative Services

September 26, 2000
Department of Health and Community Services
Paul M. LeBreton, Deputy Minister-Department of Health and Wellness
Jim Carter, Assistant Deputy Minister, Administration and Finance
Ron Durelle, Director, Financial Services
John Dicaire, Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Health and Medical Services
Jean Castonguay, Assistant Deputy Minister, Institutional Services
Bernard Paulin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Family and Community Services
Ken Ross, Assistant Deputy Minister, Mental Health
Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Lucille Riedle, Chairperson
Rick Phillips, Director, Financial and Administrative Services
Department of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs
David McLaughlin, Deputy Minister
John Kershaw, Assistant Deputy Minister, Federal-Provincial Affairs
Roger Doucet, Assistant Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Cooperation
Rick Phillips, Director, Financial and Administrative Services

September 27, 2000
Department of Health and Community Services
Paul M. LeBreton, Deputy Minister - Department of Health and Wellness
Jim Carter, Assistant Deputy Minister, Administration and Finance
Ron Durelle, Director, Financial Services
John Dicaire, Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Health and Medical Services
Jean Castonguay, Assistant Deputy Minister, Institutional Services
Bernard Paulin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Family and Community Services
Ken Ross, Assistant Deputy Minister, Mental Health

2000 Report of the Auditor General
On December 12 and 14, 2000, the Committee met in a special joint session with the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations to receive and review the Report of the Auditor General of New Brunswick, Volume I, 2000.

Committee Hearings 2001
The Committee held twelve days of public hearings in the Legislative Council Chamber during the months of February and March 2001, to consider departmental reports and to review the Public Accounts of the Province of New Brunswick for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000. The following officials appeared before the Committee and answered questions for the year under review:

February 1, 2001
Office of the Auditor General
Daryl Wilson, Auditor General
Kenneth D. Robinson, Deputy Auditor General
Office of the Comptroller
Michael Ferguson, Comptroller
Janet Gallagher, Acting Director of Account Services
Stephen Thompson, Director of Audit and Consulting Services

February 6, 2001
Department of Finance
John Mallory, Deputy Minister
Department of Supply and Services
G. Stephenson Wheatley, Deputy Minister
Rick Burnett, Director, Finance
Ashley Cummings, Assistant Deputy Minister, Buildings
Greg Cook, Executive Director, Facilities Management
Lori MacMullen, Chief Information Officer, Corporate Information Management Services
David MacMinn, Assistant Deputy Minister, Services

February 7, 2001
Department of Natural Resources and Energy
David Ferguson, Deputy Minister
Donald E. Barnett, Assistant Deputy Minister, Minerals and Energy
Keith Burgess, Director of Finance and Administrative Services
Pam Breau, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services
Tom Reid, Assistant Deputy Minister, Renewable Resources
Ellen Barry, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Planning and Federal/Provincial Relations

February 8, 2001
Department of Transportation
David Johnstone, Deputy Minister
Darrell W. Manuel, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Engineer
Walter W. Steeves, Executive Director, Policy and Motor Vehicle
Dale Wilson, Executive Director, Administration and Vehicle Management

Department of Solicitor General
Don Dennison, Deputy Minister - Department of Public Safety
Michel Thériault, Assistant Deputy Minister, Community and Correctional Services
Brian Alexander, Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety Services
Brian Wilkins, Director, Financial Services

February 13, 2001
Department of Education
Raymond Daigle, Deputy Minister
Robin Roe, Deputy Minister
Elizabeth Abraham, Acting Deputy Minister, Administration and Finance
Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Lucille Riedle, Chairperson
Rick Phillips, Director, Financial and Administrative Services

February 14, 2001
Department of Education
Raymond Daigle, Deputy Minister
Robin Roe, Deputy Minister
Elizabeth Abraham, Acting Deputy Minister, Administration and Finance

Department of Labour
Nora Kelly, Deputy Minister - Training and Employment Development
Paul Blackmore, Assistant Deputy Minister
George Breau, Director, Financial Services
Pat Doherty, Executive Director, Departmental Services
Deborah Burns, Acting Executive Director
Lyne Paquet, Budget Officer
Gérald Nadeau, Acting Director of Apprenticeship and Certification

February 15, 2001
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Claire LePage, Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Clair Gartley, Assistant Deputy Minister, Agricultural Development and Innovation
Dr. Michael Maloney, Director, Corporate Services

February 20, 2001
Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Lucille Riedle, Chairperson
Department of Justice
Roger Bilodeau, Deputy Minister
Suzanne Bonnell-Burley, Assistant Deputy Minister
Gerard Doucet, Assistant Deputy Minister
Raymond McLaughlin, Director, Financial Services
Neil Foreman, Executive Director, Administrative Services
Department of Human Resources Development - N.B.
Karen Mann, Deputy Minister, Department of Family and Community Services
Don Ferguson, Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources Development Division
Bernard Paulin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Family and Community Social Services
Humphrey Sheehan, Assistant Deputy Minister, Housing Division
Jack Brown, Director, Financial Services
Dave Easby, Executive Director, Policy and Planning
Gary Baird, Director, Information Resource Services
Charles Boulay, Director, Housing Programs

February 21, 2001
Department of Human Resources Development - N.B.
Karen Mann, Deputy Minister - Department of Family and Community Services
Don Ferguson, Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources Development Division
Bernard Paulin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Family and Community Social Services
Humphrey Sheehan, Assistant Deputy Minister, Housing Division
Jack Brown, Director, Financial Services
Dave Easby, Executive Director, Policy and Planning
Gary Baird, Director, Information Resource Services
Charles Boulay, Director, Housing Programs
Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture
William H. Thompson, Deputy Minister, Department of Investments and Exports
Richard Burgess, Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance and Investment
Joanne Walker, Manager, Budget and Accounting Services

February 22, 2001
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Roland Cormier, Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Michael Maloney, Director, Corporate Services
Labour and Employment Board
Eugene McGinley, Q.C.
Youth Council of New Brunswick
Anthony Knight, Executive Director

March 13, 2001
Department of Intergovernmental Affairs
David McLaughlin, Deputy Minister
John Kershaw, Assistant Deputy Minister, Federal-Provincial Affairs
Roger Doucet, Assistant Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Cooperation
Rick Phillips, Director, Financial and Administrative Services
Premier's Health Quality Council
Mavis Hurley, Deputy Minister
Executive Council Office
Jean-Guy Finn, Deputy Minister
Rick Phillips, Director, Financial and Administrative Services
New Brunswick Police Commission
Grant Garneau, Chairman
Premier's Council on the Status of Disabled Persons
Randy Dickinson, Executive Director

March 14, 2001
Department of Health and Community Services
Nora Kelly, Deputy Minister, Department of Health and Wellness
Jim Carter, Assistant Deputy Minister, Administration and Finance
Ron Durelle, Director, Financial Services
John Dicaire, Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Health and Medical Services
Joy Haines-Bacon, Assistant Deputy Minister, Family and Community Social Services
Jean Castonguay, Assistant Deputy Minister, Institutional Services
Ken Ross, Assistant Deputy Minister, Mental Health

The Committee intends to complete its review of the 1999-2000 Public Accounts following the adjournment of the current sitting of the House.

The Committee wishes to thank the many government officials that appeared during the public sessions and wishes to acknowledge their cooperation in providing follow-up information.

And your Committee begs leave to make a further report.

(Sgd.:) Sheldon Lee, M.L.A.
Chairman.

Ordered that the Report be received and leave be granted and the Committee continued.

_______________

Hon. Mr. E. Robichaud laid upon the table of the House the following documents:

Report of the Working Group on Accessibility to Post-Secondary Education in New Brunswick.

Government Response to the Report of the Working Group on Accessibility to Post-Secondary Education in New Brunswick - May 2001.

_______________

Mrs. Mersereau gave Notice of Motion 115 that on Thursday, May 24, 2001, she would move the following resolution, seconded by Mr. S. Graham:

That an address be presented to Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, praying that she cause to be laid upon the table of the House a list of companies that the Province of New Brunswick purchased seedlings from, effective April 2000 to present.

_______________

Hon. Mr. Green announced that it was the intention of the government that Private Bills 41, 45, 47 and 49 be read a second time Tuesday next. He further announced that it was the intention of the government that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 44, 51, 50, and 52, following which the House would resolve into a Committee of Supply to consider the estimates of the Department of Training and Employment Development.

_______________

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole with Mr. Ashfield in the chair.

And after some time, Mr. Bernard took the chair.

It was agreed by unanimous consent to continue sitting through the noon recess.

And after some time, Mr. Alward took the chair as Acting Chairman.

And after some further time, Mr. Ashfield took the chair.

At 4.50 o'clock p.m. the Chairman declared a recess and left the chair.

5 o'clock p.m.

The Committee resumed with Mr. Ashfield in the chair.

Following consideration of Bill 44, Fiscal Stabilization Fund Act, the Chairman put the question that he report the Bill as agreed to and the motion was carried on the following recorded division: