Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Todd.

We finally got a reasonable civilized question and I will respond in a civilized way except for his comment about double dipping. I do not know why Members, when they ask a reasonable question, have got to add to it a bunch of rhetoric that has no reference to the question. Mr. Speaker, if my honourable colleague is concerned about the perception that there may be the ability to influence the lending institution because a particular person is the manager of the Aurora Fund, and he would like us to put together some guidelines and policies to make sure that does not happen, I would only be too happy to do that. Thank you.

I respectfully remind the Members, including the Ministers, in answering the questions not to provoke debate. Mr. Krutko. Final supplementary.

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I stand to be corrected but I hope they are in place. There would be some professional guidelines in place that the lending institutions would make mandatory. If they are not, I will move as quickly as we can to put them in place. I would like to add since we are talking about the Aurora Fund that Pacific Western does, in fact, finance a number of municipalities at a much lower cost than a lot of the lending institutions across the Northwest Territories. In fact, they do save a number of municipalities including Yellowknife, dare I say this morning, a significant amount of money and I certainly appreciate their involvement in lending to municipalities and individuals in the territories. I have just been passed a note I am told we already have guidelines. It is contained in the offering memorandum. It is at arms length. It has a conflict of interest component in it. I will double check with that when we finish here. I would like to thank my MLA colleague for that advice and I will get the information he requires, so he can take the time to read it in a constructive way. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. 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. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled, Recruitment and Retention of Health and Social Services Professionals, A Plan to Address Critical Needs. This document was developed jointly by the Department of Health and Social Services and boards, the NWT Health Care Association, NWT Medical Association and the NWT Registered Nurses' Association. The plan has three components creating a stable workforce, increasing the competencies of staff and developing a northern workforce.

Mr. Speaker, this plan will begin to address the immediate and critical concerns about the recruitment and retention of health and social services professionals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, February 26, 1998, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that this Legislative Assembly supports the principle of equal pay for men and women doing work of equal value;

And further that the Legislative Assembly strongly urges the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Union of Northern Workers to work together in collective bargaining to negotiate fair compensation to affected employees and rates of pay that treat men and women equally for performing work of equal value;

And furthermore that the Government of the Northwest Territories makes every reasonable effort to achieve pay equity and resolve the pay equity complaint and other employee wage and benefit cost issues, within the timeframe for inclusion in a new collective agreement and in a manner that minimizes the impact of the settlement on government employment and client service levels. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Ng.

Bill 14 An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Aivilik that Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker;

This bill amends the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act, to change the calculation for the amount of contribution to be made by a Member as of October 16, 1995, and to limit the effect of the actuarial increase to an allowance paid in respect of service before 1992, for a Member who elects to commence receiving the allowance after obtaining the age of 55 years.

This bill also amends the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act, so that it complies with the Income Tax Act (Canada) by making changes to the following in respect of service after 1991:

- the way in which maximum benefits are calculated;

- the time at which a Member may take a full pension;

- the pension to which a spouse is entitled upon the death of a Member or former Member;

- the way the amount of a pension is calculated, when a Member of former Member wishes to commence receiving it before or after a certain time;

- the form that a pension may take.

This bill also amendments a Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, to limit the effect of the actuarial increase to an allowance paid for a Member who elects to commence receiving the allowance after attaining the age of 55 years.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the principle of the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 14, has had second reading. Mr. Ng.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 69(1) and have Bill 14, moved into committee of the whole. Thank you.

The Member for Kitikmeot is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 69(1). Do we have any nays? There are 110 nays. You have unanimous consent. Bill 14, is moved into committee of the whole. Second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Bill 8, Appropriation Act, 1998-99; Bill 11, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1997-98; Committee Report 2-13(5); Committee Report 3-13(5); Committee Report 4-13(5); Committee Report 5-13(5); Tabled Document 15-13(5), and Tabled Document 19-13(5). With Mrs. Groenewegen in the Chair.

Agreed.