Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. To the principle of the bill. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lakes, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I will keep this brief as we have had a lot of questions in this area. But I am having a hard time accepting the principle of this bill. It has not been made clear enough if the new funding for this program is going to come on the backs of those that are unsuccessful in their attempts at achieving a post-secondary education.

There is still a difference between the aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I hope my social programs colleagues are hearing this and will take this as they review the bill in committee. I am having serious problems with this and the way it looks like it is being designed and put forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. To the principle of the bill. Question has been called. All those in favor? All those opposed? Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act has had second reading. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to a committee. Item 18, second reading of bills. The Honourable Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. We have a motion dealing with the bill. To the principle of the bill. Question has been called? All those in favor? All those opposed? Bill 5, has had second reading. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to a committee. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration of committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Minister's Statement 1-14(2), Sessional Statement and Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1999-2000, with Mr. Krutko in the chair.

Thank you. We are dealing in committee of the whole with Minister's Statement 1-14(2), Sessional Statement and with Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1999-2000. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would recommend the committee consider Bill 2. I would further move that committee agrees we extend sitting hours to conclude consideration of that item.

There is a motion on the floor to deal with item 2 and also extend committee of the whole until this item has been concurred with. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. We are dealing with Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1999-2000. Members, you will find the bill in your binders. We will go to the Minister of Finance first for his opening comments on the bill. This will be followed by general comments on the bill by Members. Once general comments have been concluded, the committee will determine if they agree to go into detail of the bill. The Minister will be asked if he wishes to bring in witnesses, with the concurrence of the committee.

The process for the detailed review of the supplementary estimates include a detailed, page by page, review of the document, which is behind the bill in your binders. Once the committee has concluded the detailed review, the committee will go to the bill for a clause-by-clause approval process. After the conclusion of the clause-by-clause consideration, the bill will be reported.

We will begin by asking the Minister responsible for Finance if he would like to make opening comments on this matter.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Supplementary Appropriation No. 3 requests authority for additional appropriations of $9,026,187, made up of $4,111,154 for operations and maintenance expenditures and $4,915,033 for capital expenditures. Approximately $5 million of the new supplementary funding requirements will be offset by new revenues, recoveries or other means. As a result, the net funding requirement is $4 million. These requirements are within the estimated supplementary reserve established in the budget and will not change this year's forecasted deficit of $34 million.

The operations and maintenance supplementary appropriation requirements include the following major items:

1. $1.3 million for the Department of Health and Social Services to meet the salary obligations arising from finalization of the new Hay Plan job evaluation ratings for nurses and social workers.
2. $1.1 million for the Department of Finance to address the increase in anticipated interest costs of short term borrowing to meet government financial commitments.

The capital supplementary appropriation requirements include the following major item:

1. $3.6 million for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to address capital requirements associated with:

• • the three-month extension of the Minimum Downpayment Assistance Pilot Project;
• • independent housing and repair programs in Fort Liard;
• • construction of two independent housing units in Tulita; and
• • the private home owner pilings repair initiative in Inuvik.

This requirement is fully offset by a recovery from the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation's 1998-1999 operations and maintenance surplus.

Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to review the details of the supplementary appropriation document. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. General comments to Bill 2. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a concern with the use of special warrants, especially knowing that special warrants could be used in the area of urgent requirement, emergency or is considered in the best interest to the public. That last part can be defined in a fairly broad sense. Knowing that this is a carry over from a previous 13th Assembly, I think it is just a matter of passing on the information and concern to the Finance Minister.

Hopefully, as we go through our own budget cycle and the interim appropriation process comes upon us, this will be considered in future supplementary appropriations. Although the method of carrying these forward is of concern, I think they have been developed in the last number of months, so I do not intend to go into great detail with the Finance Minister in this area. I just want to raise a concern of the actual use of special warrants versus not previously authorized in those areas. Hopefully the Minister will be able to have some remarks on that as we go through this supplementary appropriation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Handley, do you wish to reply to that?

Mr. Chairman, no, except to agree with the Member that this is a carry over from the last government. I certainly intend to be very diligent in ensuring we abide by the intent and the wording of what special warrants should be used for. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. General comments? If there are no more general comments, I would like to ask if the Minister wishes to bring in witnesses.

Yes, Mr. Chairman, I would like to bring in witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Does the committee concur that the Minister may bring in his witness? Agreed. Would the Sergeant-at-Arms escort the witness in, please? Thank you. Would the Minister of Finance please introduce his witness to the committee?

Mr. Chairman, on my right is Lew Voytilla, Secretary to the Financial Management Board Secretariat.

I would like to draw the Members' attention to page 5. We will be dealing with detail. We are on page 5, dealing with detail Executive, operations and maintenance, special warrants, not previously authorized, Executive Offices, Minister's Office, $73,000. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Will the Minister inform us as to the requirement for a special warrant in this situation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, the requirement in this case was one where the party involved had paid out the money and required to be reimbursed. I guess that fits within the definition of public interest.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Who owns the building the Native Women's Association is occupying? Thank you.

Mr. Minister.