Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to introduce Bill 21, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2004-2005. This bill requests authority for additional appropriations of $16.813 million for operations and expenditures.
Major items included in this request for operations expenditures are:
1.A total of $11.1 million for the Department of Health and Social Services, including:
- • $4 million for the additional costs incurred for the provision of hospital services for NWT residents in hospitals outside of the NWT;
- • $2 million for the Dogrib Community Services Board's accumulated deficit and increased operating costs;
- • $1.9 million for additional costs being incurred in supplementary health programs; and,
- • $1.6 million for increases to compensation resulting from the re-evaluation of nursing and allied health care professional jobs.
2.$2.2 million for increased costs resulting from the rise in fuel prices in the NWT since 2002.
Subsequent to the supplementary appropriation document being provided to Members, an urgent issue has arose with the Mackenzie Valley winter road maintenance.
At the appropriate time, I will be making a motion to increase the Department of Transportation's supplementary request by $311,000.
I am prepared to review the details of the supplementary appropriation document.
That concludes my opening remarks. I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have. Thank you, Madam Chair.