Thank you. Tabling of documents. Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, maybe for clarification. Can I, according to the rules, move a report of the special committee on constitutional reform into committee for discussion?

Your point of order, Mr. Nerysoo, Under our rules there was an option to move it into committee of the whole. The committee decided that the motion being made to the report is received and adopted; it has been done, so according to the rules this particular item has been dealt with. Item 13, notices of motions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, April 3rd, I shall move that the interim report of the special committee on constitutional reform be moved into committee of the whole for discussion.

Notices of motion. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, April 3rd, I shall move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for High Arctic, that the not withstanding Rule 89(2), that Mr. Arngna'naaq and Mrs. Marie-Jewell be named as the alternate Members to the special committee on constitutional reform. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to proceed with this motion today.

Notices of motion.

Item 14, notices of motion for first reading of bills.

Item 15, motions. Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to proceed with my motion today regarding appointment of alternates for the special committee on constitutional reform.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to proceed with motions. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Lewis. Excuse me, Mr. Lewis. If Members could distinctly speak out. I will ask again to make sure we have this correct. There is a nay, Mr. Lewis. You cannot proceed with your motion today. Item 15, motions.

Item 16, first reading of bills.

Item 17, second reading of bills. Item 18, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 9-12(2), Strength at Two Levels; Tabled Document 10-12(2), Reshaping Northern Government; Tabled Document 12-12(2), Plebiscite Direction; Motion 6-12(2), Discussion on Sobriety Clause in Contribution Agreements; Bills 1, 13, 17 and 24, with Mr. Pudluk in the chair.

Mr. Chairman, if the chairman of the standing committee on finance is in agreement, we could do Bills 13 and 24 and then 1 and 17. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Does the committee agree?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

We will deal first with Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act. We will take a 15 minute break first.

---SHORT RECESS

Bill 13, Financial Administration Act

The committee will come to order. We are dealing with An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act, Bill 13. I wonder if the Minister has opening remarks.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I would ask if I could bring in the witness, the deputy minister of Finance, Mr. Eric Nielsen, and go to the witness table. Thank

you.

Is this government agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Thank you. Proceed, Mr. Minister. For the record, would you introduce your witness?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have Mr. Eric Nielsen, deputy minister of Finance, with me. Thank you.

Thank you. Do you have opening remarks?

Minister's Opening

Remarks

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act, this bill will provide the Financial Management Board with the authority to approve forgiveness of debts that are valued at $1000 or less. The act currently requires that all forgivenesses be approved by the Legislative Assembly. The Social Assistance Act allows the Minister of Social Services to forgive overpayments of social assistance up to $500.

This amendment is being proposed to improve the efficiency of government administration. The current legislation results in excessive administrative procedures and approvals by the government and the Legislative Assembly to deal with relatively minor dollar values. The amendment will also consequentially amend the Social Assistance Act so as to retain all authority for forgiveness within the Financial Administration Act. The Financial Management Board will delegate authority to the Minister of Social Services in order to maintain the current responsibility.

Chairman.

Thank you, Mr.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Chairman of the finance committee.

Comments From The Standing Committee On

Finance

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The standing committee on finance reviewed Bill 13 during its meeting of today, April 1. The committee was pleased that the Minister of Finance and his staff were available at that time, and I might note on very short notice, to answer the questions of the committee. It is difficult to get a Minister who makes himself so accommodating to the committee, and we appreciate it. Do I hear any nays?

--- Laughter

The committee was not opposed in principle to this amendment that would permit FMB to write off debts up to $1000. However, the committee was concerned that the total amount could be substantial if large numbers of debts are to be written off on an annual basis. Although these write-offs would appear in the public accounts, this would be after the fact. We were pleased that the Minister of Finance gave the commitment to supply the committee and the House with an annual listing of the debts written off under this section of the act. As a result, the committee agreed at its meeting to recommend this bill to the House for consideration. Thank you.

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Arvaluk.