Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

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

--- Carried

Bill 6 has had second reading and, accordingly, stands ordered to a standing committee. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by my honourable colleague for Nahendeh, that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Workers' Compensation Act to increase the amount of the year's maximum insurance remuneration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

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

--- Carried

Bill 7 has had second reading and, accordingly, stands ordered to a standing committee. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Todd.

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

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

--- Carried

Bill 8 has had second reading and, accordingly, stands ordered to a standing committee. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill requires the headlights or daytime running lights of a motor vehicle being driven on a highway to be on at all times. Thank you.

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

Bill 5 has had second reading and, accordingly, stands ordered to a standing committee.

Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19: consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 1-13(3), Report of the Commission on MLA Compensation; Bill 2, Write-off of Debts Act, 1995-96; and, Bill 3, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 1995-96, with Mr. Steen in the chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wonder if we can proceed with Bill 2, Bill 3 and then proceed with Tabled Document 1-13(3), which is the compensation report. I would like to get consent to proceed with Bill 2 and then Bill 3.

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have just a few short opening comments for Bill 2, Write-off of Debts Act, 1995-96. The purpose of the Write-off of Assets and Debts Act, 1995-96, is to authorize the write-off of certain debts listed in the schedule to the act.

Pursuant to section 24 of the Financial Administration Act, the write-off of government assets or debts exceeding $20,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval.

Pursuant to section 82 of the Financial Administration Act, the write-off of debts owed to a public agency exceeding $20,000, must receive Legislative Assembly approval. The write-off of debts owed to the Workers' Compensation Board exceeding $50,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval.

The write-offs being proposed in this act will not require a new appropriation. The write-offs will be charged against allowances for bad debts which were established in previous departmental budgets at the time it was determined that collection of the debts would be unlikely.

I wish to emphasize that the write-off of a debt does not relieve a debtor of the liability for repayment or mean that the government will not continue to attempt to collect the outstanding amount. Through continued reviews by my staff, future recovery of the debts may still be achieved, Mr. Chairman. In addition, we track the principals of each firm for future credit references. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.