Agreed.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The amortization of capital contributions is for the current amortization portion for gifted assets. We have a gifted asset in Fort Simpson. It was a building that was gifted to us by the federal government. As well, we have some gifted assets through the federal stimulus projects in 2011 and 2012.

In straight line amortization, until an asset is fully amortized, the amount will be the same every year until the asset is fully amortized. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I would have to get back to the Chair on that item.

The egg marketing levy is a portion that is charged on our egg producer. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The egg marketing regulations that fall under the Agricultural Products Marketing Act require that egg producers pay an egg marketing levy to the Agricultural

Products Marketing Council. That ratio is .016 dollars per dozen. It is a requirement that was established at the beginning when the act and the regulations were put in place. Payments to levy are met each quarter, and they’re shown as revenue, so it’s essentially a fee as part of receiving the quota for the production of eggs in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. That’s a revenue that accrues to the GNWT and is used for the purpose of agricultural expenditures. Again, it’s revenue to the GNWT, so the appropriation would define an expenditure. As the committee knows, a significant investment is made in the agricultural branch, so we would attribute part of that revenue possibly being accounted for in the agricultural expense. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The act and the regulations define commercial production. At this point in time, if a party wishes to enter into commercial production for the purpose of sale, they are required to register under the Egg Marketing Regulations. That requires the party to deal with the council.

At this point in time, we have about 123,000 layers allocated and 100 percent of that quota less approximately about 6,000 layers has been allocated to parties across the Northwest Territories. There remain a small allocation of 6,000 layers for the purpose of interest of any other producers or new entrants that wish to get into the market.

At this point in time, on the specifics of a party here in Yellowknife, I’m not aware of the commercial operation, but those opportunities exist still in the Northwest Territories and the party would deal with the council to seek that authority. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I should have referred to the board. The members of the Egg Producers Board as of 2012 are Jackie Milne, Roy Fabien, Michael Wallington, John Penner, Glenn Wallington and Bruce Ramage. They make up the Egg Producers Board, and they review the issue of allocation and responsibility for compliance with the regulations pursuant to the act. Thank you, Madam Chair.

No, not all are residents of Hay River. Chief Fabien, of course, with the Katlodeeche band; Mr. Penner is an operator out of British Columbia who currently has operational authority for the barn in Hay River; Mr. Ramage is an Alberta resident but has previous ownership of the barn in Hay River; Mike Wallington and Glen Wallington, of course, out of Hay River; and Jack Milne, with the agriculture community in Hay River as well. Their responsibility, as I said, is to oversee adherence to the requirements for managing the quota in the Northwest Territories. The Minister makes those appointments, and in terms of process, they continue to provide reports to the department and an annual report is tabled in this Legislature under the Agricultural Products Act as required under legislation. Thank you, Madam Chair.