Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is a motion on the appointment of information and privacy commissioner.

WHEREAS section 61 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act permits the appointment of an Information and Privacy Commissioner by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories after the approval of appointment by resolution of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly considers the appointment of an Information and Privacy Commissioner essential to exercise the powers and perform the duties under the act;

AND WHEREAS the term of the Information and Privacy Commissioner will expire on June 30, 2005;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly is of the opinion that appointment of an Information and Privacy Commissioner should now be made to be effective on July 1st, 2005;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that the pursuant to section 61 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act that Elaine Keenan-Bengts be appointed as Information and Privacy Commissioner;

AND FURTHER that appointment be effective July 1, 2005.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

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

--Carried

Item 17, first reading of bills. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2005-2006, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 1 has had first reading. Item 18, second reading of bills.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2005-2006, be read for the second time.

Madam Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2005-06 fiscal year. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Roland. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

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

---Carried

Bill 1 has had second reading and accordingly the bill stands referred to Committee of the Whole. Item 19, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2005-2006, with Mr. Pokiak in the chair.

Thank you. We have one item before Committee of the Whole: Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2005-2006. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes to consider Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2005-2006.

Thank you. Is that agreed by committee?

At this time, can we take a short recess?

---Applause

---SHORT RECESS

We are now in Committee of the Whole to deal with Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2005-2006. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he has any opening comments.

Yes, Mr. Chairman. I am here to introduce Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2005-2006. This bill requests authority for additional appropriations of $21.342 million for operations expenditures and $32.002 million for capital investment expenditures in the 2005-06 fiscal year.

Major items included in this request for operations expenditures are as follows:

1. $16.1 million for the Department of Executive, Financial Management Board Secretariat, for the resources associated with the human resource amalgamation. Of this amount, $14.8 million was transferred from other departments;
2. $3.2 million for the Department of Health and Social Services for the additional costs incurred for the provision of hospital services for NWT residents in hospitals outside of the NWT;
3. $2.2 million for initiatives to prepare for the Mackenzie gas project, as follows:

• • $1.3 million for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to provide contribution funding to assist communities to prepare for the project and participate in the review process;
• • $440,000 for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs for three community benefits agreements specialist positions and a community benefits coordinator position to help communities identify issues, anticipated impacts and strategies;
• • $378,000 for the Department of Health and Social Services for three regional workshops to examine anticipated social impacts and initiate collaborative planning to monitor and mitigate these impacts; and,
• • $110,000 for the Department of Health and Social Services for a social impacts coordinator position for a two-year term to coordinate the community monitoring and mitigation of the social impacts.

The operational funding request also includes $2.8 million for contribution funding for the continuation of infrastructure projects not completed in the 2004-05 fiscal period. Funding for these projects was approved and lapsed in 2004-05.

The operations funding requests are within the 2005-06 supplementary reserve.

The major request for capital investment expenditures is $29.5 million in capital carryovers from the 2004-05 fiscal year.

I am prepared to review the details of the supplementary appropriation document. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to bring in any witnesses.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.