Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed Bill 11, Write-off of Assets Act, 1998-99, at its meeting on March 23, 1999. The committee would like to thank the Minister of Finance and his officials for presenting the bill. This bill would write-off approximately $941,000 in stock piled granular material assets the Department of Public Works and Services held in the granular products revolving fund. In most cases, the write offs reduce the book value of the material to reflect the actual value. In some cases, stock piled material has no current value due to a lack of market, poor quality material by the small size of the stock pile. The committee understands that there will be no further granular production under the fund as it was not cost-effective. Mr. Chairman, the standing committee had no difficulty with this bill and this concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on Bill 11, Write- off of Assets Act, 1998-99. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. We shall proceed with general comments. At the witness table we have Mr. Todd and Mr. Voytilla, for the record. General comments. Clause by clause. We are reviewing Bill 11, Write-off of Assets Act, 1998-99. Clause 1. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Clause 2. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Page, schedule, total, $941,402.78. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Bill as a whole?

Agreed.

Does the committee agree that Bill 11 is ready for third reading? Agreed?

Agreed.

Bill 11 is now ready for third reading. Moving onto Bill 12. Bill 12, Write-off of Debts Act, 1998-99. Mr. Todd, do you have any opening remarks on behalf of the department? Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The purpose of Bill 12, Write-off of Debts Act, 1998-99, is to authorize the write-off of debts listed in the schedule to the act, pursuant to section 24 of the Financial Administration Act. Write-off of government assets or debts exceeding $20,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval. Pursuant to section 82 of the Financial Administration Act, write-off of debts owed to a public agency exceeding $20,000 must also receive Legislative Assembly approval. The write-off of debts owed to the Workers' Compensation Board exceeding $50,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval. The write-off being proposed in this act will not require a new appropriation. The write-off will be charged against allowances for bad debts which were established in the department budget at the time it was determined that the collection of the debt would be unlikely.

I wish to emphasize that the write-off of a debt does not relieve a debtor of the liability for repayment or mean that the government will not continue to attempt to collect the outstanding amount through continued reviews by my staff. Future recovery of the debt may still be achieved. In addition, in the case of debts owed by companies, we track down the principals in each company or firm for future credit references. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Erasmus, in his capacity as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, will do the review of the committee. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, at its meeting on March 23, 1999, the Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed Bill 12, Write-off of Debts Act, 1998-99. The committee would like to thank the Minister of Finance and his officials for presenting the bill. This bill would authorize the government to write-off more than $404,000 in debts. The committee recognizes that some of these amounts may yet be recovered and encourages the government to make feasible efforts to collect the amounts owed.

Mr. Chairman, committee Members may have additional questions or comments on this bill during its review in committee of the whole. This concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on Bill 12, Write-off of Debts Act, 1998-99. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. At the witness table we have Mr. Todd and Mr. Voytilla. We are dealing with Bill 12. We are open for general comments. Details. Agreed?

Agreed.

Bill 12, Write-off of Debts Act, 1998-99, clause 1. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Clause 2. Agreed?

Thank you. Schedule E, total, $404,436.86. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Bill as a whole. Agreed?