The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 16, Write-off of Debts Act, 2008–2009, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the write-off of debts in accordance with the Financial Administration Act.

Bill 16 has had second reading.

Motion carried; Bill 16, Write-Off of Debts Act,

2008–2009, read a second time and referred to a standing committee.

The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Roland.

Bill 17 has had second reading.

Motion carried; Bill 17, Forgiveness of Debts

Act, 2008–2009, read a second time and referred to a standing committee.

The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Mr.

Speaker, I seek unanimous

consent to return to Item 5 on our agenda, which is recognition of visitors in the gallery.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Unanimous consent granted.

The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I’d just like to recognize my two boys, Matthew and Mitchell, in the House today.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 5, Bill 6, Bill 8, Bill 12; Committee Reports 2-16(2), 3-16(2); Tabled Document 37-16(2); Minister’s Statement 62-16(2).

By the authority given me as Speaker by Motion 10-16(2), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the hour of daily adjournment to consider business before the House, with Mr. Krutko in the chair.

I’d like to call the Committee of the Whole to order. We have several items to deal with: Bill 5, Bill 6, Bill 8, Bill 12; Committee Report 2-16(2), Committee Report 3-16(2); Tabled Document 37-16(2); Minister’s Statement 62-16(2).

What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee would like to consider Tabled

Document 37-16(2), the Main Estimates ’08–09, Volumes 1 and 2. Then we would like to go to Bill 8, the Appropriation Act, 2008–2009, then to the committee report on official languages, and then the rest, in order, as time permits today.

Does the committee agree?

With that, we’ll take a short break.

The Committee of the Whole took a short

recess.

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order.

Prior to the break we agreed to continue. First, we’ll deal with Tabled Document 37-16(2), Main Estimates 2008–2009. The next item we’ll deal with is Bill 8, Appropriation Act, 2008–2009. The third item is Committee Report 3-16(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2006–2007 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner.

At this time I’d like to ask Mr. Roland if he will be bringing in witnesses.

No, I will not need witnesses at this point.

With that, Mr. Premier, I understand that you wish to make a statement at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Over the past few weeks a number of motions have been passed during Committee of the Whole review of the 2008–2009 Main Estimates. In response to these motions and after discussions with the Members of this House, I would like to state that the government is prepared to make the following adjustments.

With respect to the Department of Justice:

1) the closure and of the Arctic Tern Young

Offenders Facility in Inuvik will be deferred;

2) a reduced staff model will be implemented,

incorporating 14.5 positions, plus relief workers when required;

3) $613,000 will be added to the budget;

4) $91,000 and four positions will be added to the

budget for court worker positions in Tuktoyaktuk, Fort McPherson, Yellowknife and Fort Smith;

5) $161,000 and one position will be added back

to the budget for the legal counsel position in Yellowknife to support devolution negotiations;

6) $742,000 and eight positions will be added

back to the budget for court officer positions — two in Hay River, two in Inuvik and four in Yellowknife; and

7) $250,000 will be added to the capital

expenditures budget to complete a program and facility review of women’s correctional programming prior to further decisions on the Arctic Tern Young Offenders Facility in Inuvik.

With respect to the NWT Housing Corporation:

1) a commitment has already been provided to

reallocate $1.292 million from the Infrastructure Acquisition Plan to the Homeownership Repair Program to bring expenditures up to the 2007–2008 levels.

With respect to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment:

1) $100,000 will be added to the budget for

contribution funding to the Diavik Community Advisory Board.

With respect to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources:

1) $108,000 will be reallocated from within the

Wildlife activity for the two part-time renewable resource officer positions in Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour;

2) the Bear Fence program — one position will be

added to the budget; and

3) the proposed move of staff to the Shell Lake

facility will proceed, but the department will ensure that a storefront operation is maintained in Inuvik to ensure that residents have access to services; there are no changes to funding or positions associated with this issue.

With respect to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs:

1) $250,000 from the Community Initiatives

Program will be re-profiled to retain the youth programs officer position in the Deh Cho region and a similar position in the North to work with the Sport and Recreation Council on youth-related activities;

2) $150,000 from the Community Initiatives

Program will be re-profiled to retain youth contribution funding; and

3) $50,000 will be reallocated from existing

resources for a volunteer forum.

With respect to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment:

1) $200,000 will be added to the budget to

increase the income threshold to the Senior Home Heating Subsidy Program by $10,000.

Also, Mr.

Chairman, the Oral Health Surgery

Program that was discussed by the Minister of Health and Social Services will be re-established at the Hay River Health Authority to deal with the backlog of youth dental surgery.

Mr. Chairman, I propose to follow through with these commitments in the Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2008–2009, which will be introduced into this House within the next day or two. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. With that, can I get your attention to consider those departments that have been previously deferred. Should we proceed?