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

For the record, Mr. Minister, could you introduce your witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Margaret Melhorn, deputy minister of Finance, FMB, and Ms. Louise Lavoie, assistant comptroller general, Finance, FMB.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. At this time I’d like general comments in regard to Bill 16.

Interjection.

Does committee agree to go clause by clause?

We’ll move to deal with Bill 16, Write-off of Debts Act, 2008–2009. We’ll move to page 3, Schedule, Debts Written-off, Total: $424,708.95.

Bill 16, Schedule, Total Debts Written-off:

$424,708.95, approved.

To the bill as a whole.

Bill 16 as a whole approved.

Does committee agree that Bill 16 is ready for third reading?

Bill 16, Write-off of Debts Act, 2008–2009,

approved for third reading.

Bill 16 is now ready for third reading.

Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses out.

Mr. Chair, at this time I would like to declare a conflict of interest on this bill.

For the record Mr. Yakeleya has declared a conflict of interest on this bill.

At this time I’d like to ask the Minister if he’d like to introduce the bill’s opening comments. Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Chairman, I’m here to introduce Bill 17, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2008–2009.

This bill requests authority for the forgiveness of certain debts listed in the schedule of the act.

Pursuant to section 25 of the Financial Administration Act, the forgiveness of a debt obligation to the government exceeding $1,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval. When a debt is forgiven, no further collection action shall be pursued.

The forgiveness of certain debts being proposed in this act will not require a new appropriation. Allowances for doubtful accounts were charged to an appropriation at the time it was determined that collection of the debt was considered unlikely.

The accounts being recommended for forgiveness are the results of bankruptcy, compromise settlements or are in the public interest. In cases where a compromise settlement is reached, the following factors have been considered:

•

the possibility of future recoveries;

•

the cost to continue legal actions; and

•

the value of security associated with the debt.

That concludes my opening remarks. I would be pleased to answer any questions the Members may have.

At this time I’d like to ask the committee responsible for the bill if they have any comments. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed Bill 17, the Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2008–2009, at a meeting on October 3. Following the clause by clause review a motion was carried to report to the Assembly that Bill 17 is now ready for consideration by Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 17. Individual Members may have comments or questions as we proceed.

At this time I would like to ask the Minister if he will bring in any witnesses.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses in again.

For the record, Mr. Miltenberger, could you introduce your witnesses.

This is Ms. Margaret Melhorn, deputy minister of the Financial Management Board, and Ms. Louise Lavoie, assistant comptroller general of the Financial Management Board.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Welcome, witnesses. General comments in regard to Bill 17? Clause by clause. I’ll get you to move to page 3 of Bill 17 with regard to Schedule, Debts Forgiven. Moving on to page 5, Total: $855,168.32.

Bill 17, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2008–2009,

Debts Forgiven, Total: $855,168.32, approved.

Moving back to page 1 with regard to the preamble.

Preamble approved.

Clauses 1 and 2 approved.

To the bill as a whole.

Bill 17 as a whole approved.

Does the committee agree that Bill 17 is ready for third reading?

Bill 17, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2008–2009,

approved for third reading.