Mr. Speaker, in my view, it is always important to spend money wisely. It is also important to spend it kindly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. The time for oral questions has expired. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 6.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 6, oral questions. Are there any nays?

We have a nay. Thank you. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Are there any nays? There being no nays, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, colleagues, for not naying my request. I would like to recognize two people in the gallery today, Mr. Speaker, who are visiting from the Philippines. They are here for approximately three weeks. They have been in Vancouver and in Edmonton visiting with relatives and they are here visiting with relatives, Dambee Fontanilla and her brother, Tony. The people in the gallery today are both graduate engineers. As well, they are serving as ministers for a church in the Philippines. Please help me welcome Nesie and Ver Serrera.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ootes, and welcome to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, and welcome to the Northwest Territories. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 4, returns to oral questions.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 4, returns to oral questions. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Steen, you may respond.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Members. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Krutko on February 26, 2001, regarding liability for the operation of the water facility in Tsiigehtchic.

In the event that harm was caused by deficiencies in the water system or its operation, any of the above agencies of the GNWT as a whole could be identified in a legal claim. It would then be up to the courts to assess the liability based upon the specific circumstances that gave rise to the claim. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Returns to oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to the opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled A Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table a comparison of the cost of heating fuel with income thresholds and living cost differentials between Edmonton and the Northwest Territories. I hope you will excuse some of the comments that say things like, "The program makes no sense and is unfair." Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Bill 16; Bill 19; Bill 20; Committee Reports 5-14(3), 6-14(3), 7-14(3), with Mr. Delorey in the chair.

Colleagues, by the authority given the Speaker by Motion 4-14(3), the House is resolved into committee of the whole to sit beyond the time of adjournment until the committee is prepared to report.

I would like to call the committee of the whole to order. We have a number of items to discuss in committee of the whole. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend that the committee consider Bill 19 and Committee Reports 5, 6 and 7 concurrently, specifically today to consider the budget of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. We will take a short break and then come back and deal with Municipal and Community Affairs.

-- Break

I will call the committee back to order. Mr. Minister, do you have any opening remarks?