Report On Bill 19

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Finance has reviewed Bill 19, An Act to Amend The Tobacco Tax Act, and wishes to report that Bill 19 is ready for consideration in committee of the whole, and I request that this bill be ordered into committee of the whole for today. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to place Bill 19 in committee of the whole. Are there any nays? Thank you. Pursuant to rule 70-5, Bill 19 will be placed into committee of the whole. Just Bill 19 for today. Thank you. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 12, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Keewatin Central, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to table, Tabled Document 64-12(5), the 1993 Annual Report of the Business Credit Corporation. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 12, tabling of documents. 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 the whole of bills and other matters: Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95; Committee Report 2-12(5), Report of the Review of the 1994-95 Main Estimates; Minister's Statement 5-12(5), Session Business; Tabled Document 1-12(5), Towards an NWT Mineral Strategy; and Tabled Document 2-12(5), Building and Learning Strategy, along with Bill 19, with Mr. Ningark in the chair. Thank you.

Thank you. The committee will now come to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Do we have the agreement of the committee that we do Public Works and Services and follow with Health?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Since we have some very interesting guests up there, we will take a 15 minute break and mingle with the guys up there and then come back. Okay. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Department Of Public Works And Services

Accommodation Services

Line By Line

Thank you. The committee will now come to order. When we concluded, discussion on Public Works and Services was deferred. We're on page 10-12. Total O and M, $40.710 million. Mr. Antoine.

Standing Committee On Finance Comments

The Standing Committee on Finance recommended that the Department of Public Works and Services develop the office accommodation plan to most effectively and efficiently house the headquarters personnel. Further, the committee recommended that the cost-benefit analysis which accompanied the plan should be based on

consideration of savings that could be achieved in the current commercial real estate market.

Mr. Chairman, the committee recommended further that this plan, along with the cost-benefit assessment, should be made available to the Standing Committee on Finance prior to the review of the department's budget in committee of the whole. Since this plan was not available when the Standing Committee on Finance reviewed the department's budget, this item was deferred.

The Standing Committee on Finance has since received the requested plan and some cost-benefit analyses. Committee Members are satisfied that this office accommodation plan for Yellowknife will house headquarters personnel efficiently and effectively. Committee Members understand that this plan must be approved by the Financial Management Board. Further, it is recognized that the implementation of the plan will require more funding than is currently contained in the budget for this purpose.

Committee Members anticipate that the Financial Management Board will approve the office accommodation plan for Yellowknife. However, if the Financial Management Board doesn't see fit to approve the plan, the Standing Committee on Finance will expect a briefing from the Minister which outlines the rationale for the decision.

The Finance committee is now prepared to recommend approval of this budget item and the 1994-95 appropriation for the Department of Public Works and Services. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Accommodation services, total O and M, $4.710 million. Pardon me, $40.710 million.

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Back to program summary of Public Works and Services, page 10-9. Total O and M, $127.154 million.

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Does the committee agree that this particular department is concluded?

Thank you. The Department of Health. We are on page 14-10 of the main estimates for 1994-95. When we concluded this department, we were in general comments and it was deferred. Mr. Antoine, the Department of Health.

Mr. Chairman, in our report on the review of the 1994-95 main estimates...

Mr. Antoine, perhaps we will ask the Minister if he wants to bring in the witnesses before you make your remarks on this department.

Mr. Chairman, I request permission to move to the witness table and bring in witnesses, if I might.

Thank you. Do we have the concurrence of the committee that the honourable Minister can bring in the witnesses?

Agreed.

---Agreed