Thank you, Madam Chair. The Special Committee on Nunavut Legislation met on March 17, 1999, to review Bill 5, Nunavut Power Utilities Statutes Amendment Act. Bill 5 will amend the Northwest Territories Power Corporation Act as duplicated in Nunavut to establish the Nunavut Power Corporation and to allow the Northwest Territories Power Corporation to provide services to Nunavut. It also makes several consequential technical amendments to other legislation as duplicated in Nunavut.

This legislation is enabling legislation that allows for the limitation of the Transition Agreement, as negotiated over the past year and a half by the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Office of the Interim Commissioner, Nunavut Tunngavik and the Western Coalition.

The Special Committee on Nunavut Legislation notes that Bill 5, Nunavut Power Utilities Statutes Amendment Act, was recommended by the Office of the Interim Commissioner and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and, as such, we support the passage of this bill. This bill is necessary to allow for the order and development of a power utility in Nunavut. Committee members may have questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Madam Chair.