Mr. Speaker, the Minister had earlier indicated that this committee had not been active for some time. The policy was created in 1989. I'm wondering if he is able to advise just how long a life this committee had. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have the information available to me. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Last week I spoke about taxation on aboriginal education that's due to take place April 1st. I was just wondering if the Minister knows how much of an impact it will have upon our students and is it actually SFA funding that's impacted as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Finally I have some good news to report. Although I can't confirm it, because it's only in the Canadian Press and we haven't gotten official word from the government, but we understand that the federal government will scrap the proposal to tax grants for aboriginal college and university students. So it sounds promising. I think the federal government has recognized that aboriginal students are the most underrepresented in terms of success in university and college in Canada and they need the support of the federal government by not taxing. I think it sounds like it's good news, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am, indeed, very pleased to hear that news. It will impact a lot of our students going to school, particularly down south who don't need that extra burden of being taxed, Mr. Speaker. At this point, the Minister doesn't have too many details to offer. Has he been in contact with his federal counterparts in the federal office with regard to this issue?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Canadian Press article I saw quoted Minister Andy Scott for the source for this. What we have not been able to do is confirm it through CCRA, or Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. That was the agency that was proposing the tax initiative. So we are in the process of trying to confirm that this is accurate but, based on what I have seen so far in the press, I am pretty confident that the Canadian government is following the right path here.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I actually don't have any further questions at this point. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. 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 on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table an excerpt entitled Public Service Growth, 1999 to 2004, public service growth by community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. 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 17, Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act; Bill 19, Appropriation Act, 2005-2006; Bill 20, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2004-2005; 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 Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 19, Appropriation Act, 2005-2006, specifically the Department of Justice. Thank you.

Is committee agreed?

Agreed. Then we will do that after a short break.

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