Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Members are all entitled to speak to the motion, including making amendments if they feel that an amendment is required. To the motion. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to make sure that the public in general fully understand that this government is working aggressively on this issue already. It is not a new issue to us. We have already talked to the Minister of DIAND and we are following up with our MP as well as following up on the whole issue of moving person years from Ottawa to the Northwest Territories. I see step number one to be, devolution of powers to the Northwest Territories. The whole principle of people that make decisions that effect the Northwest Territories being able to live in the Northwest Territories is a principle I can fully accept and support. I thank the two Members for raising this issue. Like I said previously, it is the intent of this government to do that and I thank them for raising the motion. Thank you.

To the motion. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know how Jake received my motion. Seriously, Mr. Speaker, I am speaking in favour of this motion. It is very important that the people that are making decisions and delivering programs and services to the north are actually in the north. I also agree with Mr. Krutko that we should be getting the approval and support of the aboriginal people. Perhaps we could ask the aboriginal governments to pass motions in support of this with whatever variation that they wish to include, of course, at their annual assemblies, because most of the aboriginal governments have their annual assemblies in the summertime and I am sure that many of us will be attending those assemblies and I am sure Mr. Antoine has most of them on his agenda. I know that a few other people also do. Thank you.

Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Ootes, do you have any closing remarks?

Thank you. The Member for Yellowknife Centre is requesting recorded vote. All those in favour of the motion, please stand.

Mr. Ootes, Mr. Erasmus, Mr. Henry, Mr. Steen, Mr. Evaloarjuk, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Barnabas, Mr. Enuaraq, Mr. Picco, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Roland, and Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you. All those opposed to the motion, please stand. All those abstaining to the motion, please stand.

Mr. Ng, Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Morin, Mr. Todd, Mr. Arlooktoo, Mr. Dent, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. The result of the recorded vote. Twelve for, no against, eight abstentions. This motion is passed. Motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Ms. Thompson.

Bill 19, Municipal Statutes Amending Act, No. 2

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kitikmeot, that Bill 19, Municipal Statutes Amending Act, No. 2, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Thompson. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 19 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Ms. Thompson.

Bill 19, Municipal Statutes Amending Act, No. 2

Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to proceed with second reading of Bill 19, Municipal Statutes Amending Act, No. 2.

The Member for Aivilik is seeking consent to deal with Bill 19. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Ms. Thompson, you have consent.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 19, Municipal Statutes Amending Act, No. 2, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this Bill amends the Charter Communities Act, the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, and the Hamlets Act, to:

-allowing municipalities to borrow from an expanded range of lenders prescribed by regulations;

-remove the restriction that municipalities borrow on a temporary basis from banks only;

-allow municipalities to borrow on a long term basis by means other than by debentures only; and

-remove the requirement that municipalities provide information in the long term borrowing bylaw that is usually unknown at the time that the long term borrowing bylaw is made.

In respect of a municipal taxing authority:

-remove the requirement for the municipality to forward a long term debt security to the Minister before it is issued or entered into and for the Minister to countersign it;

-clarify that municipality may be required to redeem a long term debt security only where a municipality is borrowing from the Government of the Northwest Territories; and

-clarify other procedural or interpretive difficulties in respect of borrowing in the various acts.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the principal of the Bill. Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried. Bill 19 has had second reading and accordingly the Bill stands referred to a committee. Second reading of bills. Mr. Krutko.

The Member for Mackenzie Delta is seeking unanimous consent to go back to item 7, written questions. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Krutko, you have unanimous consent.