Thank you. Chairman of the legislation committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The standing committee on legislation has also been considering Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Education Act. The committee would like to thank the Minister of Education, the Hon. Titus Allooloo, and his official for their appearance and their assistance to the committee in outlining the substance of the bill. The Members were also grateful to the Hon. Stephen Kakfwi for appearing on behalf of the Minister of Education during an earlier part of our review.

Bill 1 would amend the Education Act to ensure that the fiscal year for boards created under this statute coincides with the school year. The school year for boards of education, divisional boards of education and the board of secondary education would be established as running from July 1 of each year to June 30 of the following year. Presently the fiscal year used by some boards is from April 1 to March 31. The standing committee on legislation agreed with the Minister that this change should make accurate budgeting and planning activities much easier for the boards involved.

I would also note that as part of the new public process for legislative review adopted earlier during this session of the 12th Assembly, the standing committee received correspondence from the Yellowknife Catholic school board, the Dogrib Divisional Board of Education and the Kitikmeot Divisional Board of Education. All these boards expressed full support for the amendment contained in Bill 1. 1 should also note that the standing committee understands that the amendment is fully supported by the NWT Association of School Board Officials.

Accordingly, on Tuesday, March 31, the standing committee on legislation voted to refer Bill 1 for consideration by committee of the whole. In doing so, however, I must note a single concern that arises from policy considerations raised by this legislative initiative. During the current transition year in which the fiscal year for school boards is changed, there will be a three-month period, from April 1 to June 30, 1992, that is included in neither the old financial year nor the new financial year. Members of the standing committee on legislation were concerned that if an additional audit exercise is required for this transitional period, the various boards affected by the change should not have to fund the audit costs.

Motion That No Additional Audit Costs Be Assumed By Education Boards, Carried

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the standing committee on legislation, I would like to propose the following motion: I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education ensures that no additional audit costs should be assumed by education boards as the result of any change in the fiscal year.

Your motion is in order and is being distributed. To the motion.

Question.

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

I just wanted to say a few comments. I outlined the standing committee's reasons for this motion just now, and Members on the standing committee on legislation felt that there are currently many financial pressures on divisional boards of education and the board of secondary education right now. Even though audit costs would not likely be overly substantial, the committee believes that additional cost requirements should not be placed on the boards as a result of this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

General comments. Clause by clause?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Clause 1. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Clause 2. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Clause 3. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Clause 4. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Clause 5. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Bill as a whole. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Does that conclude Bill 1?

Agreed.

--- Agreed