Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the 1997-98 main estimates for the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Assembly is requesting an expenditure of $12,539,000 which includes a capital appropriation of $540,000. When I appeared before the Standing Committee on Government Operations to present the business plan for the Assembly, I indicated as I have on a number of occasions in my term as your Speaker, that the estimates of the Legislative Assembly are expenditures that are driven by legislation and political direction, both of which carry a price tag. I must also reiterate, as you all know, we work in an environment that can and does change from day to day. The business of the Legislative Assembly, its Cabinet, standing committees and our Nunavut and Western Caucuses are constantly tackling many issues which may require realignment of expenditures. Since all government is downsizing, amalgamating and implementing initiatives such as user pay/user say, it will be difficult to seek new money for this work even though it will need to get done. But we are not asking for new money. We want to lead by example and do the same and more with less.

The main estimates do not contain any increase to Members' indemnities, living allowances or constituency expenses, as the provision for an automatic increase by the consumer price index was deleted from the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. Mr. Chairman, this means that each of us will have to budget very carefully as we will have to do the same amount of work, if not more, with less as the dollars will need to be stretched.

The Management and Services Board has undertaken a number of initiatives that will provide legislative and organizational direction to the Nunavut and Western Legislative Assemblies in 1999. These initiatives include processes for determining the electoral boundaries and general elections for the two new legislatures. The Management and Services Board is also developing options for dealing with post-division pension legislation and a human resource development plan for both Legislatures. It is anticipated that the activities surrounding the first elections for both Territories will require the establishment of election administrations in Nunavut and the western territory. Mr. Chairman, I can assure you that the Management and Services Board, and ultimately this Assembly, are in a good position to assist with a smooth transition in 1999 from a legislative perspective.

The main estimates before you today, Mr. Chairman, include the addition of the transfer of $2,574,000 which was contained in the Supplementary Appropriation, No. 2, approved on November 30, 1996. This transfer of funds is related to the user pay/user say initiative and deals with the operation and maintenance of the Legislative Assembly building and a number of elements of O and M at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and the transfer of funding associated with vehicle fuel, external mail, removal, recruitment and medical travel assistance.

Mr. Chairman, this is a significant transfer to the Legislative Assembly and expenditure management measures have been developed to ensure that we do our best to live within the funding transferred. If we do not and operational costs escalate, then we will have to cover our over-expenditures from within the existing funding allocations.

Mr. Chairman, the main estimates provide for the operation of a number of statutory functions that are the responsibility of the Legislative Assembly. These functions include, of course, the Office of the Languages Commissioner who appeared before the Standing Committee on Government Operations to present her budget, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner and the new statutory position of Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Commissioner. In addition, if negotiations are successful with the Government of Canada, it is hoped that we will be in a position to appoint the first resident Chief Electoral Officer in the coming fiscal year.

Mr. Chairman, I have kept my opening comments brief to provide more time for Members to ask questions on our main estimates. With that, Mr. Chairman, my officials and I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have.