Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the previous Members have mentioned, this is a good move. We are recognizing widows post-1985 and looking at reinstating what they would have been allowed. But as others have said, I too have a great concern when we use a timeline on a calendar and disallow people from a certain period before that, especially knowing the numbers are not great here in the Northwest Territories.

I hope that the Minister, out of the kindness of his heart and believing in the people of the Northwest Territories, will make this happen and go back to the pre-1985 widows and include them in the package.

Mr. Speaker, we have talked about this government. Many Members around this table have spoken about needing to address the elderly, the sick, the employed and the unemployed. This is an opportunity for this government to go all the way and show that we truly do care for all of the people in the Northwest Territories. We will not put a date stamp on something and say that unfortunately you re-married before 1985. I hope the Minister will take that under consideration, and include them in some form, and demonstrate true compassion and leadership. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to provide a bit more clarification on how we are proceeding with this particular bill. Clearly the government has a legal and moral obligation to the widows since or after April 17, 1985. The purpose of this bill is to give to those widows what they rightfully deserve and what the Workers' Compensation Board owes to them. We intend to deal with that immediately.

With regard to the widows who re-married prior to the equality provisions in the Charter of Rights, there are many questions outstanding yet, in my mind, in terms of the precedent we may set in however we may choose to resolve this. Whether it is through a settlement as the Prairie Provinces have done, or whatever the route is that we choose.

The fact is that the widows who re-married after 1985 should not be asked to wait until all of the questions have been resolved. I think we can deal with that group of people. With regard to the widows who re-married before 1985, it is my intention to seek answers to the outstanding questions and then try to resolve this issue as expediently as possible.

I should also add the money we are dealing with here, paying out the widows, is not government or public money. This is money that will come from contributions that employers have made to the Workers' Compensation Board. It is really money that belongs to the workers. This is not an issue that we can deal with very lightly because it is not the public money we are dealing with in this case. We have to tread very carefully and be thorough in whatever direction we take. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. To the principle of the bill. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Thank you. The motion is carried. Bill 7 has had second reading. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to a committee. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Minister's Statement 1-14(2), Sessional Statement; Tabled Document 14-14(2); Bill 3; Bill 6; Committee Report 2-14(2); Committee Report 3-14(2); Committee Report 4-14(2); with Mr. Krutko in the chair.

I would like to call the committee to order. We are dealing with Bill 6, Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001. We are dealing with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. At this time, I would like to ask, what is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to recommend that we continue consideration of Bill 6, Committee Report 2-14(2), Committee Report 3-14(2), Committee Report 4-14(2) concurrently, continuing with the consideration of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, and subsequent to that, Aboriginal Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Is that the wish of the committee?

We will take a short break and return to deal with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

-- Break

Welcome back. Before the break, we were dealing with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. We are on page 5 of the budget items. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to bring in any witnesses?

Does the committee concur?

Would the Sergeant-at-Arms please escort the witnesses in.

Mr. Minister, could you please introduce the witnesses for the record.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. When we left off, we were dealing with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, under total operations and maintenance, $18,322,000. On page 7, Municipal and Community Affairs, capital, $7,627,000. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, as we finished off yesterday, I requested the Minister to provide more information on the break out of block funding for the five tax-based municipalities. I would like to know if he has that information available.

The Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Is it possible to get a copy of that to circulate to the Members? General questions. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, as a result of yesterday's discussions, and the department coming forward that they were intending to bring forward reductions to the block funding agreements between five and seven percent, I myself spoke to the mayor of Inuvik, who is the president of the Northwest Territories Association of Municipalities. He informed me that at a board meeting held by the NWTAM in late February, the communities were told that during this interim appropriation, there would be no reductions. But they had to have their heads up that during the main business planning process, possible reductions would be reviewed at that time. They were informed that during the interim appropriation, it was a status quo. Can the Minister inform us as to the change in this plan?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Murray.