Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to present the report of the Resource Management Committee on our main estimate review. The Standing Committee on Resource Management and Development would like to compliment the departments in its envelope for identifying such significant reductions while meeting, what may best be described, as difficult budget targets.

During the 1996/97 budget review, the standing committee approved total reductions to the departments in this envelope, of more than $17 million. For the upcoming 1997/98 fiscal year, proposed reductions are in excess of $30 million. The net effect on this envelope, over the two year period, will be base reductions totalling over $47 million and the elimination of more than 245 positions.

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the introductory comments of the Standing Committee on Resource Management and Development in our review of the 1997/98 main estimates. I would therefore move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kivallivik, that the report be received and moved into committee of the whole for consideration.