Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Good morning. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to Mr. O'Brien's question yesterday on the Keewatin resupply proposal and hydrographic survey, I would like to provide some additional information. I am pleased to provide my colleagues from the Kivallivik region with an update on the initiative to provide hydrographic charts in the approaches to the communities of Arviat, Whale Cove, Chesterfield Inlet and Baker Lake. The existing navigation charts for these communities were completed almost 50 years ago. Experienced navigators consider these charts to be inadequate to support safe and effective navigation to Keewatin communities by efficient, deep draft vessels.

Recognizing the need to find the most cost effective means of resupplying Keewatin communities and to support resource development in the region, the Government of the Northwest Territories has worked with the Canadian Hydrographic Service and the Canadian Coast Guard to rechart the Keewatin coastline over the past several years. In 1995 modern accurate charts were completed for the deep draft approaches to Rankin Inlet.

I have been advised by the Minister of Transportation that his officials were presented with the new preliminary charts for approaches to the communities of Arviat, Whale Cove, Chesterfield Inlet and Baker Lake. These comprehensive and very accurate new charts have confirmed the presence of viable deep draft shipping corridors. These corridors offer a safe route for larger vessels to visit Keewatin communities in the future. I was informed that next summer the final surveys will be completed of the approaches to Coral Harbour and of a new intercommunity shipping corridor along the west coast of Hudson Bay.

Mr. Speaker, we and our federal partners have finally removed all doubt of the availability of safe deep draft passages to these Keewatin communities, and I look forward to testing the competitiveness of the shipping community in utilizing this new information to provide the people of the Keewatin region with the most cost effective, efficient and safe shipping in the future.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Your motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Your motion is carried. Bill 1 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by my honourable colleague from Tu Nedhe that Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 2 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by my honourable Member for Tu Nedhe that Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried. Bill 3 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Mr. Ng.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Aivilik that Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Elections Act be read for the first time. Thank you.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried. Bill 4 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by my honourable Member for Tu Nedhe that Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act be read for the first time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried. Bill 6 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. The Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake is seeking consent to deal with Bill 1. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Dent, you have consent.

Thank you. Can we have some order in the House please. Mr. Dent, your motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 1 has had second reading and accordingly the bill stands referred to a committee. Second reading of bills. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek consent to proceed with the second reading of Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act.

Thank you. The Member for Keewatin Central is seeking consent to deal with Bill 2. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Todd, you have consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe that Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act be read for the second time.

This bill amends the Public Utilities Act to authorize the Public Utilities Board to establish joint divisions with a public utilities board of another province or territory, where a public utility conducts business in both jurisdictions. The bill provides that a joint division has the jurisdiction, powers and duties of the board and that a decision or act of a joint division is a decision or act of the board.

Thank you.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 2 has had second reading and accordingly the bill stands referred to a committee. Second reading of bills. Mr. Todd.