Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Infrastructure noted a number of concerns in their review of Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995 96, the most important of these is the use of special warrants.

Committee Members understand that special warrants were sometimes necessary to allow the government to make emergency expenditures without having to go for approval by the Assembly. However, many of the expenditures made under special warrants did not seem to be particularly urgent.

Of special concern to this committee were four special warrants totalling $3.0625 million for new spending in the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Committee Members are very concerned that special warrants not be misused and, in fact, recommend a review of the legislation governing the use of special warrants and the practices followed to date by this government and previous governments.