Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table a Yellowknives Dene Council resolution dated March 9, 2009, entitled GNWT ECE Rent Subsidy Programme - Reverting Income Assessment for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation Housing Division. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 15, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 12, 2009, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on March 12, 2009, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, May 27, 2009.

And further, that any time prior to May 27, 2009, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 12, 2009, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that this Assembly signify its commitment to work with the governments of Nunavut and the Yukon Territory in lobbying the federal government to remove the GST from the cost of home heating fuel, electricity and the cost of transporting goods to and within the Northwest Territories;

And further, that a copy of this motion be provided to the federal Minister of Finance, Members of Parliament of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon; and the governments of Nunavut and the Yukon Territory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, March 12, 2009, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that pursuant to Section 15 of the Official Languages Act of the Northwest Territories, Sarah Jerome of Inuvik be appointed as the Languages Commissioner;

And further, that the appointment be effective May 11, 2009.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 15, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2009, be read for the first time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 15 has had first reading.

---Carried

Item 19, second reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 12, Securities Transfer Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill enacts a uniform Securities Transfer Act to govern the transfer and holdings of securities and the interests in securities consistent with legislation currently enacted or being enacted in all provinces and territories. The bill provides for consequential amendments to the Business

Corporation Act, Personal Property Security Act and Seizures Act. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Bill 12, Securities Transfer Act, has had second reading and will be referred to a standing committee.

---Carried

The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill includes amendments that would provide the Residential Tenancy Act does not apply to Commissioner’s land under a lease authorized under the Commissioner’s Land Act, designate the Minister or a person authorized by the Minister as the person responsible for initiating court proceedings regarding wrongful or unlawful use, possession or occupation of Commissioner’s land, limit the liability of the Commissioner as an occupier of Commissioner’s land, include a regulation-making power respecting the posting of security when Commissioner’s land is leased for a commercial or industrial use and make other minor amendments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act, has had second reading and is, therefore, referred to a standing committee.

---Carried

The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Motor Vehicles Act. A new short-term permit is created and an application for a driver’s licence may now be made based on a licence that has been expired for up to two years. Nurses are required to report medically unfit drivers in the same manner as is required of a

medical practitioner. A person is prohibited from operating a vehicle with obscure or damaged lights or reflective devices and drivers are required to reduce their speed when close to emergency vehicles with flashing lights. The registrar’s duties are clarified with respect to sharing disclosure use and protection of records and personal information. Access to accident reports are enhanced for persons involved in accidents and drivers and employers are held liable for intervention in operation of commercial vehicles. The authority for a demerit point system is expanded as is the Commissioner’s authority to enact regulations for repair, maintenance and inspection of vehicles. Reference to jurisdiction is given greater precision and other minor improvements are made throughout the act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, has had second reading and will be referred to a standing committee.

---Carried

Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 7-16(3), Ministerial Benefits Policy; Bill 5, Professional Corporations Act; Bill 9, Northern Employees Benefits Services Pension Plan Protection Act; Tabled Document 25-16(3), Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2009-2010, with Mr. Bromley in the chair.

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole together. We have before us Tabled Document 7-16(3), Bill 5, Bill 9 and Tabled Document 25-16(3). What is the wish of committee? Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee wishes to proceed with Tabled Document 25-16(3), Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2009-2010, and then Bills 5 and 9, if there’s time, in that order. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Very good. Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Does the committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We’ll be starting with Tabled Document 25-16(3) after a short break.

---SHORT RECESS

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. The committee has agreed that we will deal first with Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2009-2010. I’d like to ask, first, if the Minister has opening comments. Minister Miltenberger.