Excuse me. Thank you. I'd like to recognize Ms. Heder again, please, for the record.

Thank you, Ms. Heder. Ms. Lee.

I'm not sure if that really got to the kind of detail I was looking for, but I'll just...that's okay. I can see it has to do with the utilities and general kind of costs that the municipalities probably want to recover. I think they should be able to do that. I know I have to depart a little bit from other Members who had a problem with this provision in that it really is up to the municipalities to set this up. The homeowners probably have a choice of paying these fees or losing their house. Anyway, I won't go there.

Could I just ask the Minister about whether these provisions...We're just simply giving the power to the municipalities to enforce this or set this up. It's up to them really, or are we giving them a mandatory requirement in passing these? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we're just making the allowance in legislation. It's up to the community whether or not they want to incorporate this as part of how they collect their fees.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Lee.

Thank you. I think that is the crux of the merit in this legislation, and on that basis I am happy to support these because it is simply giving the powers to the municipal governments to do this, and it's up to them, and they do account to their voters about these provisions. I think that's it for my questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister, any comment? Thank you. General comments on Bill 9 by Members? Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I speak in favour of the bill and all the amendments. I believe there are some aspects of administration or understanding in here that can be resolved if they're not already, you know, the resolution is already in the body of the act and the conduct of senior officers and administrators in the department and at the municipal level. I guess the kind of points my colleagues have raised have had a pretty good discussion here, and I think are indeed manageable.

I just have one question for clarification, and it relates to this condition whereby tax-based municipalities can bolt on unpaid municipal fines or services to the tax bill. The concern that if they're disputed that could throw a taxpayer's property in limbo -- I wanted to find out if a disputed cost is going to go onto my tax bill, have I had a chance to resolve that at some other level, or is the municipality just sort of going through the process and saying Mr. Braden didn't pay his water bill; he's going to have a big tax problem next year. Do I get a chance to address that dispute in some other context or some other different process before it gets strapped onto my tax bill?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, it would be our expectation that the community or municipal government would give some form of notice to individuals who had arrears that they were in a position to be having their charges transferred to a property tax. However, having said that, there is no real formal notice requirement in this legislation that requires the municipal government to provide that in writing. It really would be what the communities decide to set up in terms of process. There is no other outside appeal mechanism aside from the municipal government.

Mr. Minister.

I guess the courts would be another avenue.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Braden.

Alright, I'm not at all well versed in this kind of administration. As a taxpayer, I would like a

chance to resolve a dispute over a water bill, library fine or a parking ticket in some kind of process before it would go to that higher level or that second tier, being my tax status. Would setting that kind of thing up or requiring it be a responsibility of the territorial government to ensure it's there, or is that something that each municipality has the jurisdiction to decide on? Is there any kind of clarity there? Whose job is it to make sure I have a reasonable chance to argue my case? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. At this time, I'll recognize the clock. We're hitting 2:00 here now, so at this time, I'll rise to report progress, and the Minister will have to answer that on Monday. Thank you. At this time I'd like to thank the Minister for appearing before us, plus the staff. Thank you very much. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort them out. Thank you.

Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please? Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The motion is in order. To the motion. Is there a seconder? Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 21, third reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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