NLIS 1
March 16, 2004
(Executive Council)
(Finance)
Special warrants to be tabled
when legislature opens
Loyola Sullivan, Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board, today advised of the special warrants for the
2003-04 fiscal year that will be tabled when the House of Assembly opens for
the Spring 2004 session.
To date, there are 15 special warrants which
date from July 2003 to March 2004 and have a total value of $46.5 million.
Most of the warrants were known at the time of the independent external
review and, as such, were included in that work.
"Special warrants, when used properly,
are an important part of managing the province�s finances," said
Minister Sullivan. "Since taking office, government has issued six
special warrants. The preference of this government will be to use
Supplementary Supply bills if the legislature is in session, and to only
issue special warrants when absolutely necessary."
As defined in the Financial Administration
Act, special warrants are permitted under two circumstances: the
department does not have sufficient funds to meet the requirements of
service and no countervailing savings are available; or an unforseen
expenditure arises for a department which is of an urgent nature whereby if
the expenditure is not made, it will result in grave damage to the Crown or
to the public. Special warrants are to be tabled within three days of
issuance if the House of Assembly is in session and, in all other cases,
within 15 days from the opening of the next session.
A list of the special warrants to be tabled
is attached.
Media contact: Diane Keough, Communications,
(709) 729-6830
Summary of Special Warrants
issued to date for the 2003-04 Fiscal Year
|
Date |
Department |
Description |
Amount |
|
July 30, 2003 |
Justice |
To provide funds to facilitate the
design and construction of the Supreme Court facility in Happy
Valley-Goose Bay. |
$1,000,000 |
|
July 11, 2003 |
Forest Resources and Agrifoods |
To provide funding to cover the costs
associated with a shipment of grain for Country Ribbon Inc. |
$2,000,000 |
|
July 22, 2003 |
Municipal and Provincial Affairs |
To provide funding for government�s
response to the flooding in Badger and on the West Coast. |
$5,000,000 |
|
Aug. 18, 2003 |
Fisheries and Aquaculture |
To provide funds for the review of the
provincial fish processing policy. |
$497,500 |
|
Aug. 18, 2003 |
Forest Resources and Agrifoods |
To cover expenditures for an equity
investment in the preferred shares of Country Ribbon Inc. |
$2,500,000 |
|
Sept. 29, 2003 |
Health and Community Services |
To provide funding for the negotiated
one-year contracts with ambulance operators |
$2,300,000 |
|
Sept. 29, 2003 |
Environment |
To provide funding to undertake a risk
assessment of the former military base in St. Anthony. |
$175,000 |
|
Sept. 29, 2003 |
Tourism, Culture and Recreation |
To provide funding to facilitate
expenditures associated with the start-up of various programs and
events at The Rooms; this money is fully recoverable from the federal
government |
$635,000 |
|
Sept. 29, 2003 |
Tourism, Culture and Recreation |
To provide funding to facilitate
expenditures associated with the development of exhibitions at The
Rooms; this money is fully recoverable from the federal government |
$1,265,000 |
|
Feb. 5, 2004 |
Government Services and Lands |
To provide funding for the review of
automobile insurance by the PUB and the review of homeowner,
commercial and marine property insurances. |
$230,000 |
|
March 3, 2004 |
Justice |
To provide funding for the payment of
salary increases and retroactive pay to the Provincial Court Judges. |
$1,842,400 |
|
March 3, 2004 |
Justice |
To provide additional funding to Legal
Aid and related services; this money is fully recoverable from the
federal government |
$275,200 |
|
March 5, 2004 |
Health and Community Services |
To provide additional funding for the
costs associated with the Memorandum of Agreement with the NLMA |
$19,482,500 |
|
March 5, 2004 |
Human Resources, Labour and Employment |
To provide additional funding for the
Income Assistance Program. |
$9,000,000 |
|
March 11, 2004 |
Government Services |
To provide additional funding for
unanticipated severance costs. |
$287,600 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$46,490,200 |
2004 03
16
10:15 a.m.
|
