Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The deputy chair will now speak to the other two motions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. I move that this committee recommends that the government monitor the effectiveness of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act in the NWT and prepare its own report with the recommendations on whether the NWT needs its own legislation following the 2006 review of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act by the House of Commons. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is in order. To the motion. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to speak briefly to the motion. In her presentations to us, the Information and Privacy Commissioner gave us notice and told us as a Legislature to consider the future and present we have in this electronic information age, and we should be addressing our minds to coming up with policies and regulations that would protect the privacy of individuals. We don't have the legislation that governs that. The federal government has one, and that's the legislation that is referred to in this motion. It's not clear, because this is still very new, whether or not this federal legislation would be sufficient to protect the privacy of the residents in the Northwest Territories. I do believe that there is agreement in our committee that this is definitely an area that is important and we should address our minds to.

So by passing this motion, I am hoping that this will send a signal to the government that this is something that the government has to look into, and they should do their analysis about whether or not they should introduce some sort of legislation or policy and moving out to the general population.

I just wanted to make a short statement saying I support this motion and that I would like to have the government address their minds to it as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. To the motion.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the government investigate whether its contracts currently include clauses requiring compliance with the Access to Information and Protection and Privacy Act and, if not, that the government add such clauses to any outsourcing contracts where a business would be creating records that would otherwise be government records or handling personal information on behalf of the government. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Does the committee agree that consideration of Committee Report 7-15(3) has been concluded?

Thank you. Does the committee agree that we move onto Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2004-2005? Agreed?

Thank you. Does the committee agree that we would ask Mr. Roland if he would like to do his opening remarks? Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The purpose of the Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2004-2005, is to authorize the forgiveness of certain debts listed in the schedule of the act. Pursuant to section 25(1) of the Financial Administration Act, the forgiveness of a debt of the government exceeding $1,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval.

When a debt is forgiven, no further collection action shall be pursued. The forgiveness being proposed in this act will not require a new appropriation, allowances for doubtful accounts were charged to an appropriation at the time it was determined that collection of the debts was considered unlikely.

Accounts being recommended for forgiveness are the result of bankruptcy, compromised settlements and/or are in the public interest. In cases where a compromised settlement is reached, the following factors have been considered: the possibility for future recoveries; the cost of continual legal actions; and, the value of security. For example, do the personal guarantees hold a realizable worth?

Madam Chair, I am prepared to answer Members' questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. This is an appropriation bill, therefore, there is no formal review by committee. Does the committee agree that Mr. Roland be allowed to bring witnesses to the table?

Thank you. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms if he will please escort in the witnesses for Mr. Roland.

I would like to call upon Mr. Menicoche, chair of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight to read the chair's remarks with respect to Bill 10. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight reviewed Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2004-2005, at its meeting on August 24, 2004. The purpose of Bill 10 is to authorize the forgiveness of debts to the government exceeding $1,000. This is pursuant to section 25(1) of the Financial Administration Act that states that the forgiveness of debts over $1,000 requires approval of the Legislative Assembly.

Unlike Bill 9, Write-off of Debts Act, once a debt is forgiven, there is no further collection action taken. Typically debts being forgiven are the results of bankruptcy, compromise or negotiated settlements or are in the public interest.

There is no new appropriation required to forgive these debts, as an allowance already exists within the departments' budget for doubtful accounts.

The committee considered and adopted one amendment at the request of the government during the committee review stage. This amendment reviews the amount of money that would have to be forgiven by $3,037.81. This is because one individual was able to provide the necessary paperwork for a portion of her student loan and the applicable interest to be forgiven under the Student Financial Assistance program.

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight has no major concerns with the bill, as amended and reprinted. Individual members may have comments or questions as we proceed. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. I would like to ask Mr. Roland if he would please introduce his witnesses, for the record.

Thank you, Madam Chair. With me is Mr. Lew Voytilla, secretary to the Financial Management Board.