Report on Resources

Overall, the ministry spent $468,408,000, compared to a total estimated budget of $469,609,000. The ministry was $1,201,000 under its estimated budget, a difference of 0.3 per cent. Forty-four per cent of the ministry budget supported the Local Government Department, followed by 35 per cent for Housing, Building and Safety. Ninety-two per cent of these funds were transfers to local governments and BC Housing.

2004/05 Resource Summary

	Estimated1	Other Authorizations2	Total Estimated	Actual	Variance (Actual minus Total Estimated)3
Operating Expenses ($000)
Local Government2	97,464	112,951	210,415	208,102	(2,313)
Housing, Building and Safety	160,718	6,500	167,218	165,511	(1,707)
Aboriginal, Multiculturalism and Immigration2	14,552	2,060	16,612	20,884	4,272
Women's and Seniors' Services	210,123	(172,777)	37,346	37,162	(184)
Executive and Support Services	11,406	(493)	10,913	9,644	(1,269)
Transfer to Royal British Columbia Museum4	12,105	—	12,105	12,105	0
Northern Development Initiative Trust Act5		15,000	15,000	15,000	0
Total	506,368	(36,759)	469,609	468,408	(1,201)
Full-time Equivalents (Direct FTEs)
Local Government	111	—	111	118	7
Housing, Building and Safety	55	1	56	55	(1)
Aboriginal, Multiculturalism and Immigration	63	—	63	69	6
Women's and Seniors' Services	29	—	29	28	(1)
Executive and Support Services	82	—	82	84	2
Total	340	1	341	354	13
Ministry Capital Expenditures (Consolidated Revenue Fund) ($000)
Local Government	90	—	90	9	(81)
Housing, Building and Safety	65	—	65	71	6
Aboriginal, Multiculturalism and Immigration	355	—	355	387	32
Women's and Seniors' Services	150	—	150	294	144
Executive and Support Services	250	—	250	44	(206)
Total	910	0	910	805	(105)

Explanations and Comments

Under expenditure of $1.2 million is due to a statutory appropriation for the University Endowment Lands Special Account. This appropriation is a result of increased public works costs and accommodation costs associated with the suspended sale of the University Golf Course. Cost pressures in some departments in the ministry were offset by cost savings in other departments. The ministry FTE variance can be largely attributed to additional service delivery requirements for the following initiatives/programs:

• Premier's Task Force on Community Opportunities (Local Government)
• New Deal on Communities and Cities (Local Government)
• BC Community Water Improvement (Local Government)
• Provincial Nominee Program (Aboriginal, Multiculturalism and Immigration)

(Staffing costs for the Provincial Nominee Program are recovered through application fees).

Capital Expenditures and Financing Transactions

Capital spending by core business reflects changing information technology priorities within the ministry during the fiscal year. The capital expenditures were primarily for new information management systems for Multiculturalism and Immigration and Women's Services. The former system tracks the performance of and payments to contractors, who deliver language training to immigrants; this furthers the core business objective of maximizing the social and economic benefits of immigrants. The latter system tracks the performance of and payments to contractors, who provide shelter to women who have experienced abuse, and their children; this furthers the core business objective of addressing the unique needs of women. Overall, the variance is due to lower than anticipated spending for contracted services.