Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think this is the culmination of a number of areas that were of concern. One was the commission that was established to look into Members' salaries and benefits. There was concern about the many multitudes of processes that were used to pay our salaries and in addition there were areas where we receive expense allowances. They are really costs that we incur on behalf of our constituents. It was difficult to understand that for many people and we appreciate that and it was pointed out in the report that was issued by the commission that was established. Also, we had the Conflict Review Panel who brought forward a report.
This particular bill incorporates all of those recommendations. I think it was time that we did this. It will straighten it out and I think it is a very positive step, in my mind, for us to have gone through this and taken action on it. It does take effect for the next assembly and hopefully those Members will not encounter the kind of difficulties that we have faced. I don't believe they will if this bill passes. It straightens out a lot of areas and it deals with a multitude of areas, both expenses and incomes for Members of the Legislative Assembly, the Executive Council itself and then the conflict of interest area.
I am encouraged by this bill, Mr. Chairman. Certainly a lot of thought and a lot of work by a number of committees and reports have gone into it. As I said, the Member's compensation committee and then later the Conflict of Interest Review Panel. Those are my comments, Mr. Chairman.