Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. To the motion. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Motion 8-14(6) be amended by deleting the words "implemented in tax-based communities only" after "social housing strategy be" and substituting "deferred until no later than March 31, 2004;

AND FURTHER that a working group of Regular Members and Ministers of the 14th Assembly be established to conduct a comprehensive review of the harmonization strategy.

Mr. Speaker, I seek a recorded vote.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Let's go one step at a time here. We have a motion to amend and that's what we will deal with first. The motion to amend is in order. We will circulate a copy of the motion. To the motion.

Question has been called. Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote on this motion.

The honourable Member is requesting a recorded vote. This is on the amendment. To the amendment. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. To the amendment. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week when the first motion on harmonization came up, I stood and enumerated a number of issues I had with the harmonization initiative. I pointed out how the communication had been inadequate, how I thought the implementation was flawed because it wasn't being phased in for all of the people it would affect and it was only being phased in for seniors and students. I had challenged the government to recognize that it needed to be changed so that it wasn't a program that had to be only cost-neutral. I think that's at the heart of what the problem is. If we insist that the program be cost-neutral right off the bat, you can't phase in everybody. It's not right to expect people to make dramatic changes or deal with dramatic changes in their rent all at once.

So I think that in theory the issue of harmonization is a good way to go. I think we should treat people the same whether they are single parents or seniors if they are in need. I think we have to find some way to make sure that the kids who live in single parent families have the support that our society thinks is necessary to give them, just as we think it's necessary to support seniors. I don't think we can do that if we have to have a system that's cost-neutral.

So in spite of my concerns, I thought I had gotten a signal from Cabinet that they were going to announce some changes to the program in how it was going to be brought forward and implemented. So at the time, I didn't support the motion to defer. However, Mr. Speaker, not having heard anything from Cabinet that has dramatically changed the manner of implementation, I will at this time be supporting this amendment and then the amended motion if this amendment passes because I agree that the implementation needs to have some examination. It needs to be brought forward in a manner that is reasonable and fair to all of our constituents. So, Mr. Speaker, with that I just wanted to say that I would encourage all Members to support this amendment.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. To the amendment.

Question has been called. A request for a recorded vote has been made. All those in favour?

Recorded Vote

All those opposed?

All those abstaining?

Thank you. Those in favour, 10; those opposed, one; those abstaining, six. The motion to amend is carried.

---Carried

To the motion, as amended.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried, as amended.

---Carried

Item 17, first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

We have a motion and the motion is in order. To the motion.