Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. This motion is for the request for a special audit by the Auditor General of Canada.

WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly recommends the appointment of the Premier and Members of the Executive Council to be responsible for the overall management and direction of the executive government of the Northwest Territories, including matters of policy;

AND WHEREAS one Minister may be appointed to have authority over more than one department or to hold more than one title;

AND WHEREAS a Minister has responsibility for all matters arising within a department over which the Minister has authority;

AND WHEREAS the Auditor General of Canada is the auditor for the Northwest Territories by virtue of the Northwest Territories Act and Financial Administration Act;

AND WHEREAS section 31 of the Northwest Territories Act gives to the Auditor General all the powers that the Auditor General has under the Auditor General Act;

AND WHEREAS each department and its officials are responsible for co-operating with the Office of the Auditor General and with the Comptroller General and for responding to and acting on the observations raised by the Office of the Auditor General relating to concerns arising from audits;

AND WHEREAS subsection 13(1), of the Auditor General Act describes the powers of the Auditor General to be entitled to free access at all convenient times to information that relates to the fulfillment of her responsibilities;

AND WHEREAS the Auditor General reports directly to the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS there is significant concern by the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires the Auditor General to conduct a special audit into all matters and circumstances surrounding the Financial Management Board and Executive Council's approval of a special warrant in the amount of $696,000 approved on January 21, 2002 and presented to the Legislative Assembly in Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2001-2002.

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that the Legislative Assembly requests the Auditor General of Canada to undertake a special audit into all aspects and approvals of the process that lead to the payments for termination, compensation and benefits to former employees as provided for in the special warrant approved by the Financial Management Board on January 21, 2002;

AND FURTHER that the Auditor General investigate and consider any other factors in her opinion she feels relevant;

AND FURTHERMORE requests that all employees and officials actively cooperate with the Auditor General in providing all appropriate documents, papers, and information;

AND FURTHERMORE that the Auditor General is requested to complete this special audit as soon as practicable and provide a report to the Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause