Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek unanimous consent to waive rule 93(4) and have the report of the Standing Committee on Finance, Report 4-12(7) which we just presented, placed on the order paper for committee of the whole today. Mahsi.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Committee Report 4-12(7) will be placed in committee of the whole for today.

---Applause

Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committee on the review of the bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, February 24th, I will move the following motion.

Thank you. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 16, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, February 24, 1995, I shall move that Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Nursing Profession Act, be read for the first time. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 16, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS with the election of the Honourable Sam Gargan as Speaker and of the Honourable Kelvin Ng as a Minister, it has created vacancies on a number of standing committees;

AND WHEREAS it would be desirable to fill these vacancies;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that the honourable Member for Baffin Central, Ms. Rebecca Mike, be appointed as a permanent Member of the standing committees on Finance and Public Accounts and as an alternate Member of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions;

AND FURTHER, that the honourable Member for Thebacha, Mrs. Jeannie Marie-Jewell, be appointed as a permanent Member of the standing committees on Legislation and Public Accounts, and as an alternate Member of the Standing Committee on Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96; Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act; Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Dental Mechanics Act; Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act; Bill 14, Miscellaneous Statutes Amending Act, 1994; Committee Report 2-12(7), Report on the Legislative Action Paper on the Office of Ombudsman for the Northwest Territories; Committee Report 3-12(7), Report on the Review of the Legislative Action Paper Proposing New Heritage Legislation for the Northwest Territories; and, Committee Report 4-12(7), Report on the Review of the 1995-96 Main Estimates, with Mr. Ningark in the chair.

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

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Do we agree then, that we consider Bill 6, Bill 2, Bill 9 and Bill 8, in that order? No? Did I get that wrong?

(Microphone turned off)

Thank you. We will consider, as recommended by Mr. Dent, Bill 6, Bill 14, Bill 9 and Bill 8, in that order. Is that agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Qujannamiik. Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act. Mr. Pollard, do you have opening remarks for the committee?

Minister's Introductory Remarks

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the amendment to the Petroleum Products Tax Act provides that the purchase of fuel for resale outside the Northwest Territories is exempt from petroleum products taxes.

This amendment is necessary because the Department of Justice has advised that the current wording of the Petroleum Products Tax Act is unclear as to whether the purchase of fuel in the Northwest Territories for resale in foreign locations is taxable.

When a person purchases fuel in the Northwest Territories, the tax is collected by the vendor when delivered. If the fuel purchased is intended for resale in a foreign location, the imposition of the tax at the time of purchase in the territories could be challenged as being beyond the direct taxation authority of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The current administrative means of providing an exemption for fuel resales to offshore locations is administratively inefficient for industry and government and a financial burden to industry. A person must first pay the tax and then apply for a remission order which must be approved by Cabinet.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment also provides that sales between collectors are not taxable. Under the current administrative collection scheme, the government appoints companies to act as tax collectors. To charge a collector the tax at the point of delivery for resale to another collector would be a financial burden on a company that is acting on behalf of the government.

The amendment also provides that all references to the Comptroller General in the act be changed to the Minister of Finance. As well, references to the Commissioner are changed to the Minister of Finance. This amendment is necessary to reflect organizational changes in the Department of Finance and the Financial Management Board Secretariat.

In addition, Mr. Chairman, the amendment provides that administrative matters are the responsibility of the deputy minister and simplifies wording in the act. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. On behalf of the Standing Committee on Legislation, Mr. Tony Whitford, do you have opening remarks?

Standing Committee On Legislation Comments

Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Before I open the floor to general comments, I would like to ask the honourable Minister if he wishes to bring in his witnessses.

If I might Mr. Chairman. Thank you.