Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Supplementary Appropriation Act No. 4 1999-2000, requests authority for additional appropriations of $3,781,500 for operation and maintenance expenditures.
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 supplementary appropriation requirements include the following major items:
- • $1.3 million for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to meet the obligations arising from changes to the recently signed collective agreement between the NWTTA and the Government of the Northwest Territories;
- • $1.2 million for the Department of Health and Social Services to fund increased costs resulting from higher than projected demands on existing health and social services programs and the Government of the Northwest Territories share of the costs for the new Canadian Blood Service Agency; and
- • $1 million for the Executive to fund transition costs associated with the establishment of the 14th Legislative Assembly.
That concludes my opening comments, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.