Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon. Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a few brief remarks concerning Bill 8, which would amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. The bill before you, Mr. Chairman, simply amends the act to require that indemnities paid to Members for the fiscal year 1994-95 will not be adjusted to accord with changes in the consumer price index.

My responsibility, Mr. Chairman, for this amendment is to introduce the bill in the House and carry it through on behalf of the Management and Services Board. The Management and Services Board approved the principle of freezing all indemnities for the next fiscal year only and recommended it to Caucus. Caucus considered the matter and, with the consensus of the Members in agreement with the principle, the bill was introduced.

The initiative, Mr. Chairman, of not proceeding with an increase equivalent to the consumer price index is not new to this Assembly. The Members have done this on two occasions, once in the fiscal year 1992-93 when there was a zero increase and once when the federal and territorial governments implemented the six and five per cent in the 1980s.

Mr. Chairman, this bill does not affect the annual increase to Members' living allowances and constituency allowances, which will be increased by 1.8 per cent effective April 1, 1994. The Management and Services Board and Cabinet fully support this amendment and trust all Members will be equally supportive. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.