Item 13, notices of motion. Item 14, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 15, motions. Item 16, first reading of bills. Item 17, second reading of bills. Item 18, consideration in committee of whole of bills and other matters: Minister's Statement 3-12(4), Sessional Statement; Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1994-95; Committee Report 3-12(4), Review of the 1994-95 Capital Estimates; Committee Report 5-12(5), Standing Committee on Legislation Report on Tabled Document 145-12(3): Legislative Action Paper on the Workers' Compensation Act; Committee Report 7-12(4), Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Committee Review of DeLury and Associates Limited Contracts; Committee Report 8-12(4), Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions Final Report on the Elimination of the Highway Transport Board; Committee Report 9-12(4), Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions - Final Report on Arctic College; and, Tabled Document 11-12(4), Report from the Fort Providence/Cambridge Bay Strategic Planning Workshops. By the authority given to me by Motion 1-12(4) regarding sitting hours, I put the Assembly into committee of the whole until the committee is ready to report progress. Mr. Pudluk will be in the chair.

The committee will come to order. What does this committee wish to do this afternoon? Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Chairman, I believe to ask the Government House Leader that we make every effort to continue on with the budget items. Therefore, we would like to ask the Minister to bring in his witnesses and proceed with DPW. Thank you.

Does this committee agree that we do the budget this afternoon?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1994-95

Committee Report 3-12(4), Review of the 1994-95 Capital Estimates

Department Of Public Works And Services

Thank you. We were on page 08-25, details of capital, petroleum products, building and works. We were on Baffin. That will be entirely up to the Minister if he wants to bring his witnesses and go to the witness table. It will be entirely up to him. We were on Baffin, total region, $2.240 million. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to ask the Minister if he is going to be bringing in witnesses?

Thank you. Mr. Minister, are you willing to bring in your witnesses at this time?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have two more pages to deal with. I don't think witnesses are necessary at this time.

Thank you. Baffin, total region, $2.240 million. Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Chairman, I'd just like to know what pages you are proceeding on? Page 08-25, is that correct?

Yes, Member for Thebacha. Baffin, total region, $2.240 million. Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Chairman, I think there was a request on behalf of the Members that, in order to proceed with the budget in an expedient manner, if Ministers would concur with bringing in their witnesses even though there is only a couple of pages left, it could avoid a number of questions being asked to the Minister. I don't know if that decision is at the discretion of the Minister or whether the committee requests it. How is a ruling made? If you could assist us. Thank you.

We are looking at our rules. It is usually a normal practice that the Minister brings the witnesses in, but that will be up to the Minister if he doesn't want to bring his witnesses in. It will be up to the Minister, daily, if he doesn't want to bring them in. Member for Kitikmeot.

Committee Motion That Minister Bring In Witnesses, Out Of Order

Mr. Chairman, if it is in order, I would like to move a motion that the Minister bring his witnesses into the committee of the whole.

In the rules it says, with consent of the committee that a witness appear to supply information as a requirement. The Minister may bring his staff into the House if he wants, but it's not necessary. I'm going to call the motion out of order.

---Out of order

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess to alleviate the problem and to give the Member for Thebacha some comfort, I will request that my staff come into the House.

Does the committee agree?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you, Minister. He is willing to bring his witnesses in to deal with this budget. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to bring the Minister's witnesses in at this time. Mr. Minister, are you going to sit with your staff or are you going to remain in your seat?

Thank you. Mr. Minister, for the record, could you introduce your witnesses at this time?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to introduce Mr. Bob Doherty, Deputy Minister of Government Services and Public Works. Dave Waddell, Director of Finance.

Thank you. We are on page 08-25. Baffin, total region, $2.24 million. Mr. Koe.

For the record, and for clarification, I would like to go back to Fort Smith, fuel tank construction from Snare Lake. Yesterday, a question was asked, "What size tanks were going into the...

Hold on, Mr. Koe. I will ask this committee if it wants to go back to that particular area. Mr. Koe.