Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I didn't quite hear the answer that if they can only serve one patient per hour, but, that being said, I'm going to move on because I think the Minister implied that the nurse practitioners will be both the saviour and the backbone of the new system. Although it was announced four-and-a-half years ago, I certainly hope it wasn't a priority of this government at that time because it certainly doesn't appear to be at this time. Mr. Speaker, that leads me into my final question, which is, would the Minister be willing to commit and demonstrate that this initiative is a priority to his Ministry and to show in some way that we are not losing a net loss of patient visits per day by demonstrating this priority initiative? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all the people that work in the field of health care are valuable and comprise the backbone of our system. They're all essential and they're all critical and I can indicate, as well, to the Member that we've invested a very significant amount of resources and time and we've come a long way in the last few years in terms of supplementing and improving the services and support to the people. Nurse practitioners are a new addition, a valuable addition and we're going to, over time, make sure that they're integrated across the system. Overall we are dealing with the issues, as I've indicated, and, in the longer term, we'll address the concerns by the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 6, oral questions. 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. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 17, Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act and wishes to report that Bill 17 is now ready for Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Bill 17 is now ready for Committee of the Whole. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents.

In accordance with section 102(2) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, I hereby table a report dated October 29, 2004, by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner of the Northwest Territories regarding the complaint pursuant to 100(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act filed by the Legislative Assembly Board of Management against Roger Allen, then Member of Inuvik Twin Lakes, on August 27, 2004.

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. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. By the authority given to me as Speaker, by Motion 2-15(3), I hereby resolve the House into Committee of the Whole to sit beyond the hour of adjournment until such time as committee is ready to report progress, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

I call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 16, Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation Act, as well as Bill 19, Appropriation Act, 2005-2006, specifically Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Does the committee agree?

We will proceed with that after a short break.

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Good afternoon everybody. Welcome back to Committee of the Whole. We're on Bill 16 and I would like to go to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development for his opening comments. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Today we are considering Bill 16, NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation Act.

The proposed NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation Act consolidates government business programming and allows for development of new and innovative approaches to business assistance financing.

The proposed legislation responds to business community recommendations, beginning with the Common Ground Strategy released in 2000.

The Business Program Review Committee was established by former RWED Minister Handley to follow up on recommendations of the Common Ground Strategy. In 2002, the committee made a number of recommendations to improve government business programs. The most significant recommendation was the establishment of a single agency to coordinate business programs, which has resulted in this proposed legislation.

I would like to provide you with some broader background and perspective on the proposed BDIC Act, specifically why the government needs a new business assistance corporation, and why the proposed BDIC Act meets those needs.

The Northwest Territories has enjoyed rapid economic growth over the past decade; growth that could provide the basis for a prosperous future for all the residents of the NWT. However, the reality is that the growth that we have achieved over the past decade has not been distributed evenly throughout every sector of our economy, or in every region and community in the NWT. Some sectors, like non-renewable resource extraction, have grown much faster than others. Some communities have highly-developed access to essentially business support services, others do not.

All communities and individuals in the Northwest Territories must have equitable access to financial and information resources needed to ensure that the NWT's economic growth benefits all northern residents.

We must also find ways to promote diversification of economy, to ensure that the NWT's economic growth is sustainable over the long term. We can do this by increasing expertise and providing the essential assistance that Northwest Territories businesses need to develop, expand and prosper.

The proposed BDIC Act has been designed to help meet these needs, by providing the GNWT with a more effective, efficient and flexible means to provide northern businesses with financial and other vital assistance.

The model proposed will allow for optimal regional delivery in a manner that reflects regional circumstances.

The BDIC Act was developed after intensive preparation and extensive consultation to help northern businesses meet the challenges of a changing local, national and global economy. The BDIC Act will serve as a cornerstone of government business assistance programming in the NWT. The improved services will help to meet the goals and priorities of the government's strategic plan to develop a diversified economy that provides northerners with opportunities and choices.

I want to thank the members of the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development for their work in reviewing Bill 16, and I look forward to hearing Members' views on this legislation, which adds to our efforts to diversify our economy in a manner that is accessible to all residents. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. I would now like to go to the chair of Governance and Economic Development, Mrs. Groenewegen, for your comments.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development conducted public hearings on Bill 16, Business Development Investment Corporation Act, in Yellowknife on December 2, 2004, and on February 7, 2005. The committee would like to thank the NWT Chamber of Commerce for its written submission, and Minister Bell and his staff for presenting the bill.

The new Business Development and Investment Corporation, or BDIC, created by Bill 16, will replace the existing Business Credit Corporation and NWT Development Corporation, both of which offer assistance to NWT businesses and communities through various programs.

An overriding concern for the committee was whether and how this new legislative framework will lead to real improvements in the services provided to clients. For example, Members noted that in any given region there are a number of agencies, including community teachers' groups and regional RWED offices, involved in actual delivery of business programs. These arrangements, which too often result in clients having to knock on the doors of several agencies to access programs, will not be changed by Bill 16. The Minister assured the committee that although clients may not notice immediate improvement, the new corporation will set the stage for enhanced programs and services in the future.

The one-window structure at headquarters will result in better coordination of programs and services, and it is hoped that eventually the regions will also evolve into one-window service delivery.

The new corporate structure will also create more flexibility and opportunities for the BDIC to partner with other agencies, and thereby increase the pool of money available for its programs.

The committee also noted that much of the detail that will determine the success of the new corporation will be left to regulations. This detail will include program guidelines, appeal processes, market disruption policies and definitions of terms, such as extraordinary costs and need, that have been identified as problematic in past Auditor General reports. Many of these matters are currently addressed in policy, which will have to be reviewed and converted into regulations. The Minister advised that the new board will be tasked with this review, which he hopes

can be completed within the first year of the board's mandate.

Although regulations can ordinarily be approved by government without committee input, given the significance of the regulations that will be made under this act, Members believe it is critical that we have an opportunity to review and comment on them. The committee was pleased that the Minister committed in a letter dated January 27, 2005, to involve the standing committee in new program development and substantive change to existing business program policy. Although the committee does not doubt the Minister's sincerity in making this commitment, Members would have preferred that the bill itself include consultation requirements that would bind future Ministers, as well.

The committee shares the concern of the NWT Chamber of Commerce, that taxpayers' dollars for business development and investment be used responsibly. The lack of a clear separation between the social and economic objective of the NWT Development Corporation has been a concern of the business community, the Auditor General and Members for several years.

The committee believes that Bill 16 goes some way to improve the situation by segregating the funding for the corporation's subsidiaries, which are generally considered social investments, from the loans and investment fund, which will be used to support other programs, including venture investments. The effect is that social investments will have to be funded from GNWT contributions, which will increase transparency and accountability and better ensure that public funds are being used responsibly.

The majority of the committee agrees that social investments are an important means of creating employment and income opportunities in small communities, regardless of how long it takes them to turn a profit or break even. Members were concerned that Bill 16, as originally introduced, required all investments to meet a minimum rate of return. During the clause-by-clause review of the bill, the majority of Members supported a motion which amended Bill 16 to remove the minimum rate of return requirement for investments in the corporation's subsidiaries.

Committee members had lengthy discussions with the Minister about the independence of the BDIC from government. Members noted that the Minister will have the power to issue binding directives to the board and will appoint the chief executive officer. The board's staff will be members of the public service. The committee and Minister agreed to amend the bill to disqualify GNWT public servants from being appointed to the board and to require that the Minister consult with the board before appointing its chief executive officer.

While the majority of the committee was satisfied with these amendments, some Members continue to believe the GNWT could have gone further to increase the corporation's independence and reduce costs by eliminating duplication between government and BDIC and removing the board's staff from the public service.

In its submission to the committee, the NWT Chamber of Commerce raised concerns about the potential for conflict and bias in allocating funding. While it would be impossible for legislation to completely eradicate conflict, Members were pleased to note that the conflict of interest provisions in Bill 16 are broader than what is in the present act, and they will apply to the corporation's officers and committee members, as well as to board members and a CEO.

The committee and Minister also agreed to amend Bill 16 to require that the corporation's annual reports identify the owners and locations of businesses that receive funding. This added requirement will enhance public accountability for the BDIC's programs.

The committee supported the NWT Chamber of Commerce suggestion that there be minimum qualifications for potential directors. During the clause-by-clause review of the bill, an amendment was made to add a requirement that board members either have owned or managed a business enterprise in the NWT, or have business expertise relevant to the NWT economy. There was considerable discussion about whether the word "expertise" would be broad enough to include business-oriented people who have substantial experience and knowledge but do not necessary have expertise in the sense of academic qualifications. For example, Members would not want a person with business knowledge gained through working with an aboriginal development corporation to be ineligible to sit on the board of the BDIC because they have never owned a business themselves and do not meet the government's criteria for business expertise. The Minister assured the committee that the word "expertise" was intended to be broad and inclusive of such people.

Members believe it is important that Bill 16 refer specifically to sustainable development and capacity building, which are important goals for this government and are a substantial part of the reason for the BDIC's existence. The committee and the Minister agreed to amend the bill to include a provision instructing the board to take these goals into consideration where appropriate.

In addition to the amendments described above, the committee and Minister agreed to an amendment to allow for sustainable development and capacity building to be defined in regulation, and to specify which business owners will be named in the BDIC's annual report.

Mr. Chair, it is clear that Bill 16 is only the beginning of the work needed to bring our business programs to the level clients expect, and to ensure cost-effective program delivery. Members will be monitoring the setup and implementation of the BDIC closely, as programs are reviewed and regulations are developed, with a view to ensuring that improvements do happen as promised.

The committee was pleased to hear that if Bill 16 is passed, the Minister intends to get this work underway as quickly as possible, and would immediately begin the process of recruiting board members.

Throughout its review of Bill 16, the committee has appreciated the Minister's forthrightness with information and willingness to consider our input, and we look forward to continuing this collaborative approach through the implementation of the new BDIC.

This concludes the committee's opening comments on Bill 16. Individual Members may have questions and comments as we proceed. Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 16, Business Development and Investment Corporation Act,

as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole, as amended and reprinted. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes, I'll do that.

Does the committee agree?

Agreed. Please bring in the witnesses, Sergeant-at-Arms.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. I would ask now if you would please introduce your witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With me today are Rebecca Veinott who is the legal counsel from Justice; and deputy minister of RWED, Peter Vician. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, Ms. Veinott and Mr. Vician, to the proceedings this afternoon. I would now like to open up the floor for general comments by Members on Bill 16. General comments. Ms. Lee.