Agreed.

---Agreed

The bill as a whole.

Agreed.

---Agreed

Does the committee agree that Bill 14 is ready for third reading?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 14 is now ready for third reading.

---Applause

I would like to thank Mr. Pollard and Mr. Nielsen for being with us today. Before we take a break, would you like to indicate what you want to deal with when we come back? What item would you like to deal with after we come back from the break?

Okay, we'll come back to Safety and Public Services after we have a short break.

Agreed.

---Agreed

---SHORT RECESS

Department Of Safety And Public Services

I would like to call the committee back to order. Before the break, we agreed to go on to the Department of Safety and Public Services. With us, we have Mr. Nerysoo.

Safety

I would like to turn your attention to page 08-10 in the main estimates. We're on safety. Any comments on safety? Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could I get the House to invite witnesses in, please?

Mr. Nerysoo would like to have some help. How do Members feel about that?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Mr. Nerysoo, your witnesses are invited to the table. Sergeant-at-Arms, would you conduct them to the table, please? Total O and M figure is $2.316 million. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Nerysoo, before you answer Mr. Dent's question, would you identify your witnesses, please?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my right is the deputy Minister, Mr. John Quirke. On my left is Mr. Henry Dragon, the director of finance. In reply to the question, the submissions will be ready by the end of this month.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Any other questions on this item? The figure is $2.316 million, total O and M.

Agreed.

---Agreed

Mine Safety

Next page, 08-11, mine safety. Any questions on this item? Total O and M, $890,000. Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, as we know, there's been a lot of discussion in this House about mining. I think it's been demonstrated in the last couple of days, even by De Beers' rather unfortunate intervention to keep a film from being shown, that we have a lot of work to do in order to get the support across the territories that we need to take advantage of a tremendous opportunity. I've been impressed by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. I think he's taking a very balanced approach. The Minister of Renewable Resources is attempting to take a balanced approach with the environment and the Premier is taking a balanced approach.

I think we have to realize that there will always be critics, but we have a responsibility to do everything we can, as a government, to make sure that all our responsibilities are well done, in the environment, as far as our relationships with aboriginal people and in safety. I think it's incumbent upon us to ensure that we have an adequate number of mining inspectors to deal in this area because of the incredible new activity. I wonder if the Minister could tell us if he has a proposal to have an increase in mining inspectors expected to go before FMB in the near future?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The submission that we have completed includes the matter of mining inspectors as well.