Mr. Chairman, I just want to make a few comments on the committee's report on Bill 6, Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. I concur with the report that the committee has produced. I realize the bill has been reprinted according to the wishes of the committee, in concurrence with the government, but there is one area I would like to touch upon, which the committee also touched on.
It is with regard to section F on page 5. It reads, "The standing committee feels that this option, as well as other options which might be available, should be explored." I'm not too sure to what extent the government has agreed to undertake the review of fees for services. I'm having a little bit of difficulty with the whole area of fees for services.
I would just like to know when the government is anticipating developing these options. When further amendments are required, would they take place or are they just going to explore and leave it at that? I'm not too sure about what the committee is trying to say. I think they are basically leaving it up to the government. If it is a concern of the committee, maybe it should have been noted and given a time frame for the government to develop these options. It is an area I'm having problems with.
In general, Mr. Chairman, I agree with the standing committee's report. I don't have any problems with it and I think the government has adhered to most of the recommendations and has amended the bill appropriately. I see a new reprint of Bill 6 in our binders.
Mr. Chairman, I am in support of this type of legislation and support the report of the Standing Committee on Legislation. Once we get into general comments on the bill itself, I will have questions for the government on finances. I don't believe the issue of financing this type of legislation was ever brought forward to the Standing Committee on Finance to consider. It is my understanding, Mr. Chairman, that by putting this type of legislation in place, it is going to cost us approximately $1 million or more. I have a concern about that.
Members will note that the report of the standing committee just the other day, brought to a head the fact that we are in a very difficult financial situation. There is even a recommendation in the Standing Committee on Finance report that the government introduce legislation so that we don't get into an accumulated deficit for 1998.
I'm having reservations, Mr. Chairman, on the question of financing. I agree with the principle of the bill. I agree that this type of legislation should be brought forward in the Northwest Territories, but I'm questioning the financing aspect. Once we approve the legislation, it becomes law and the government will have to carry out the contents of the legislation and it is going to cost us money. We have a very limited amount of money. If this is, as I understand it, going to cost over $1 million, that means we are going to have to find $1 million from within our own budget.
Passing this legislation doesn't mean that the federal government is going to give us additional money to put this legislation in place. I am having concerns with the whole area of legislation. Mr. Chairman, I would have wished that the Standing Committee on Legislation would have referred this legislation to the Standing Committee on Finance for consideration, because it is going to cost our government money and it would have been nice to get the opinion of the Standing Committee on Finance as to how the government is going to finance this legislation, if passed.
In general, I agree with the report of the standing committee and the bill, but the question of financing is still a big question mark. I don't know where the current government is going to get the money from. I know it has to come from within. But if we do that, then other programs such as housing, renewable resources or other programs may be hit. We, as Members, are going to get hurt. I just wanted to advise the Members of this House that the whole area of financing is a concern to me. Mahsi.