Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance.

1. What was the average rate of vacant positions in GNWT departments, including WCB and the Housing Corporation, for the last three fiscal years?
2. Which departments reflect an expected vacancy rate in their budget, and what is the percentage of expected vacancies used in calculating the compensation and benefits budgeted for those departments?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees in the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled, Nation Building: Framework for a Northern Strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses entitled, Small Businesses Priorities in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has information on the insurance rates. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS section 18(1) of the Official Languages Act permits the appointment of a Languages Commissioner by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, after the approval of the appointment by resolution of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly considers the appointment of a Languages Commissioner essential for ensuring recognition of the rights, status and privileges of each of the official languages and compliance of the spirit and intent of the Official Languages Act;

AND WHEREAS the term of the Languages Commissioner has expired;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly is of the opinion that the appointment of a Languages Commissioner shall now be made;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that pursuant to section 18 of the Official Languages Act of the Northwest Territories, Shannon Gullberg be appointed as Languages Commissioner;

AND FURTHER that the appointment be effective February 22, 2005.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order.

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

---Carried

Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 15, Tlicho Community Services Agency Act; Bill 17, Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act; Bill 19, Appropriation Act, 2005-2006; Committee Report 9-15(3), Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight Report on the Review of the Draft 2005-2006 Main Estimates; Committee Report 10-15(3), Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development Report on the Review of the Draft 2005-2006 Main Estimates; Committee Report 11-15(3), Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the Draft 2005-2006 Main Estimates; and, Committee Report 12-15(3), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Administration of the 2003 General Election. 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 the committee is ready to report progress, with Mr. Ramsay in the chair.

Mr. Chairman, the committee wishes to consider Bill 19, Appropriation Act, 2005-2006, with consideration of Health and Social Services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Is the committee agreed?

Mr. Miltenberger, do you have witnesses to bring in?

Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman.

Is the committee agreed?

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort in the witnesses.

For the record, Mr. Minister, please introduce your witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Mr. Dave Murray, the deputy minister of Health and Social Services; and Warren St. Germaine, the director of financial services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, Mr. St. Germaine and Mr. Murray, to the proceedings this afternoon. I don't have anybody on the list. We left off on page 6-23, program delivery support. We were going through the detail, operations expenditure summary, $31.274 million. Mr. Braden.

Mr. Chairman, thank you. There is a bit of a description on this page regarding authority and board administration costs. I am on page 6-24; I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. I am comparing one set of books here to another. I am one page ahead of you. I will defer my question until we are ready to go to page 6-24.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Page 6-23, program delivery support, operations expenditure summary, $31.274 million.