Mr. Chairperson (Gerry McAlpine): Order, please. Will the Committee of Supply please come to order.
This section of the Committee of Supply will be considering the Estimates of the Legislative Assembly. Does the honourable minister have an opening statement?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Environment): Actually, no, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairperson: I thank the honourable minister for those short comments.
Does the opposition critic, the honourable member for Burrows, have an opening statement?
Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): No.
Mr. Chairperson: I thank the honourable member for those short remarks.
Since there is no ministerial salary for the Legislative Assembly, we shall proceed directly to consideration of the line items. I should point out for the benefit of the committee that the first three items, Indemnities, Retirement Provisions and Members' Expenses, are items that are statutory, and that is, the dollar amount is set by the statute.
There is no requirement to pass these lines, and the lines can only be changed by legislative changes. The lines will be read aloud and members will have the opportunity to ask questions on these lines if they wish, but there is no requirement to pass these lines. I should note that once we reach Section 4, Other Assembly Expenditures, we will then be considering line items that have to be passed.
So reading into the record, S1. Indemnities (Statutory) $3,415,600 (a) Members $3,317,800; (b) Additional Indemnities $97,800.
S2. Retirement Provisions (Statutory) $1,762,300. Provides for pension payments to retired members and matching registered retirement savings plan contributions for members. (a) Pensions and Refunds $1,487,900; (b) Registered Retirement Savings Plan $274,400.
S3. Members' Expenses (Statutory) $3,254,900.
Mr. Martindale: Mr. Chairperson, I would just like to put on the record that we in the NDP caucus believe that MLAs should be treated the same as civil servants regarding salary increases and decreases.
Mr. Chairperson: We thank the honourable member for those comments.
Mr. McCrae: I will resist the significant temptation to make further comment.
Mr. Chairperson: I thank the honourable minister.
S3. Members' Expenses (Statutory) $3,254,900. Provides reimbursement of various expenses related to functions and special duties performed by members. (a) Constituency Expenses $2,102,700; (b) Temporary Residence and Living Expenses $332,700; (c) Commuting Expenses $37,600; (d) Travel Expenses $490,400; (e) Special Supplies and Operating Payments $116,800; (f) Printing and Franking $169,700; (g) Committee Expenses $5,000.
1.1 4. Other Assembly Expenditures $4,011,700. Provides administrative support for the Legislative Assembly. (a) Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition (1) Leader of the Official Opposition's Salary $25,700--pass; (2) Other Salaries and Employee Benefits $123,900--pass; (3) Other Expenditures $32,500--pass.
1.1 4.(b) Salaries and Employee Benefits $2,785,200--pass.
1.1 4.(c) Other Expenditures $1,044,400.
Mr. Martindale: Mr. Chairperson, it just occured to me since I recently travelled with a legislative committee that the cost of travelling in Manitoba is quite expensive. We just, as a legislative committee, went to Thompson, and I think my return airfare was $730. Several people have pointed out to me that you can fly on a charter flight to London, England, more cheaply. Is there any way that the government of Manitoba can negotiate cheaper air travel in Manitoba?
Mr. McCrae: Mr. Chairman, I would be happy to perhaps pass that question on to our colleague the Minister of Government Services (Mr. Pitura), who may have a better answer than I am able to give. Other than that, I think that is the best that I can do with that question. It is a legitimate question. It sometimes makes you wonder, but I have travelled myself, and sometimes we should make some personal decisions that make some sense. For instance, if you have significant or enough time to plan ahead, you can get in on seat sales and that sort of thing, which I know I have done in the past.
So, you know, there is individual responsibily on all of us, but certainly I think it would be a good idea for me to pass that question on to the Minister of Government Services, and perhaps something more definitive can come forward, and I thank the honourable member for asking it.
Mr. Chairperson: 1.1 4.(c) Other Expenditures $1,044,400--pass.
Resolution 1.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $4,011,700 for Legislative Assembly, Other Assembly Expenditures, for the fiscal year ending the 31st day of March, 1998.
1.2 5. Office of the Provincial Auditor (a) Salaries and Employee Benefits $2,530,000--pass; (b) Other Expenditures $545,300--pass.
Resolution 1.2: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $3,075,300 for Legislative Assembly, Office of the Provincial Auditor, for the fiscal year ending the 31st day of March, 1998.
1.3 6. Office of the Ombudsman (a) Salaries and Employee Benefits $720,700--pass; (b) Other Expenditures $116,400--pass.
Resolution 1.3: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $837,100 for Legislative Assembly, Office of the Ombudsman, for the fiscal year ending the 31st day of March, 1998.
1.4 7. Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (a) Salaries and Employee Benefits $377,400--pass; (b) Other Expenditures $85,500--pass.
Resolution 1.4: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $462,900 for Legislative Assembly, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, for the fiscal year ending the 31st day of March, 1998.
This now concludes the Estimates of the Legislative Assembly.