Mr. Hawkins, rephrase your question.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope I don't lose another question on the list because I have to repeat it.

---Laughter

I will squeeze the next two together if that's the case. Mr. Speaker, my question to the honourable Minister is how does this Minister monitor the reporting requirements of public boards and agencies under the Financial Administration Act? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, each Minister would deal with those departments, boards and agencies that they're directly involved with. If it's a health and social services board, that report would be filed through that responsible Minister and be brought forward to the House. I would become involved if in fact there were parts of the act that were not being followed. Then we would look at the situation on a case-by-case basis and see what requirements were not met and what penalties might be there, and we would move forward on that basis. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister. In light of this new revelation coming forward, what action, if any, will your department be taking in these cases when boards and agencies fail to supply clearly spelled-out requirements under the Financial Administration Act?

Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think I can vouch for the current Cabinet, that we would not allow those situations to happen.

---Applause

There are a number of actions that we can take. One of the main areas is to withhold the funding that they deal with. That would be a very critical move on our behalf, to absolutely shut down the program by not allowing the funding to flow to that group or agency. As well, depending on the situation, the Minister could step in and remove the board or put in an administrator from a different board or agency. There are a number of avenues that we could take as a government. Thank you.

I would just like to acknowledge the clock. Time has run out for oral questions, but I will allow Mr. Hawkins to conclude his one remaining supplementary and his final supplementary. Mr. Hawkins.

I sincerely appreciate that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, I don't have to stress the importance of these reports. They are very important tools for this Assembly to measure whether our funding is being used properly. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister investigate this incident that has been brought forward and report back to the House as to what corrective actions have taken place so that these tools will not be overlooked in the future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, once again, I would vouch for my Cabinet colleagues in these particular areas. In this particular situation that has come forward, the Minister has looked into it, has reported to this House, and will be tabling documents in this House to bring the situation to the current time frame. Thank you.

Your final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question, again to the Minister responsible for the FMBS, will be would the Minister be willing to launch an investigation to ensure that this problem isn't being repeated by any other board and agency, and further report those findings and table them in the House at this Legislative Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a government we are operating prudently and being effective and efficient with the funds we do have available. I will commit that we will go back to the Ministers who have responsibilities of boards and agencies under their authority, and request that they see if we are meeting the timelines. If those aren't being met, then I will report those back to this House. Thank you.

Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, replies to budget address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Mr. Roland.

The motion is in order.

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

---Carried

Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 4, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2003-2004, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2003-2004 fiscal year. Thank you.