Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 7-16(3) moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration today. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Committee Report 7-16(3) will be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration today. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 12.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Reports of standing and special committees. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures is pleased to provide its Report on the Evaluation of the Use of Laptop Computers in the Legislative Assembly and commends it to the House.

Report On The Evaluation Of The Use Of Laptop Computers In The Legislative Assembly

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures tabled Committee Report 3-16(3), Report on the Use of Laptop Computers and Blackberry Devices in the Legislative Assembly, on February 11, 2009.

The report examined a number of issues pertaining to the use of portable electronic devices by both Members of the Assembly and our staff in the performance of our duties.

As a result of the review, Committee Motion 3-16(3) was adopted in Committee of the Whole on February 19, 2009. The motion allowed for the use of laptop computers during Committee of the Whole proceedings for the winter 2009 session and also set out the requirement that the use of laptop computers be evaluated at the end of that sitting. The motion further stated that communication devices could not be used by a Member who has the floor, and that a Member who has the floor must have his or her laptop computer closed.

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures conducted an evaluation with regard to laptop use prior to the current sitting of the House. The committee contacted each Member of the Assembly and asked that they help to determine the next steps by indicating their support from a list of various courses of action. The options were:

1. that the rules of the Legislative Assembly be

permanently amended to allow for the use of laptop computers in Committee of the Whole proceedings;

2. that the Assembly continue permitting the use

of laptop computers during Committee of the Whole proceedings on a trial basis, evaluating their use again in the fall of 2009, at which time additional infrastructure information may be available; or

3. that the use of laptop computers be

discontinued during Committee of the Whole proceedings.

Eleven Members responded to the survey. Three Members chose option number one, seven Members chose option number two and one Member chose option number three.

Based on these results, the standing committee is recommending that the Assembly continue to permit the use of laptop computers in Committee of the Whole proceedings for the balance of the 2009 calendar year, to be followed by a full evaluation. The committee is also recommending that the same conditions previously applied for laptop use be extended during this period.

As a result of these deliberations, the committee is pleased to make the following recommendation:

Recommendation 1

That the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends Members be permitted to continue use of laptop computers during Committee of the Whole proceedings for the balance of the 2009 calendar year, after which their use will be fully evaluated;

And further, that handheld and other portable communication devices are not to be used by a Member who has the floor;

And furthermore, that a Member who has the floor must have their laptop closed.

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures on Evaluation of the Use of Laptop Computers in the Legislative Assembly.

Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Committee Report 8-16(3) be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 8-16(3) moved into

Committee of the Whole for consideration today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure has reviewed Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act. The committee wishes to report that Bill 13 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole, as amended and reprinted. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled My Nature Journal. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 15, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that this Legislative Assembly hereby establish a special committee to conduct a review of the Child and Family Services Act; and further, that the following Members be named to the special committee: the Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy; the Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu; and the Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko; and further, that notwithstanding Rule 88(2), the following Members be named as alternate Members of the special

committee: the member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro; and the Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley; and furthermore, that the special committee prepare its terms of reference and present them at the first opportunity during the sitting of the Legislative Assembly in October 2009. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 14, tabling of documents.

---Unanimous consent granted.

The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a letter which was addressed to the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Michael McLeod, from Ms. Margaret Nazon, with regard to the conflict between the fishing area and the ferry landing.

Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.