I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. The next department that’s up is the Legislative Assembly. I’d like to ask Speaker Jacobson if he’d like to make opening comments.

Yes, I would, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present the 2013-2014 estimates for the Legislative Assembly. The Board of Management is seeking an operations expenditures appropriation of $18.239 million, a slight decrease from the 2012-2013 estimates.

This Assembly continues to improve its broadcasting system. This week we are conducting live broadcasts of public hearings held in Committee Room “A” by standing committees. In April the Assemblies of Nunavut and Northwest Territories will make a joint submission to the CRTC to designate our respective broadcasts a “must carry” on direct to home satellite television services in Canada’s North. The Legislative Assembly is the most important symbol of public government in the Northwest Territories. If this is to continue, we must not only keep doing relevant and important work, but we must be seen to be doing such work. Our broadcast system is at the centre of our efforts in this regard.

Colleagues, I want to advise Members that we are continuing to make improvements to our Page Program. In addition to ensuring that we are served by Pages from throughout our territory, we are taking steps to ensure they continue to be safe and well supervised while they are in the capital. The Pages that serve us in this House do very good work for us and I thank them all for this.

Colleagues, this year will mark the 20

th anniversary

of the official opening of our Legislative Building. This fall will also mark the repayment of our mortgage to the Legislative Assembly Building Society. We are planning a “mortgage burning” ceremony to celebrate this milestone and the fact that we will no longer be tenants in our own Legislature. In addition to other celebrations of our history, we plan to unveil portraits of all the Premiers who have served the people of the

Northwest Territories. These portraits will form part of the permanent display in our Legislature.

Colleagues, this budget provides funding for the independent commission to review Members’ compensation and allowances which must be struck and report to the House next year.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This concludes my opening remarks. I am pleased to respond to any questions Members may have.

Thank you, Speaker Jacobson. Would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

Yes, I would.

Does committee agree?

Thank you. I’d like to ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to bring the witnesses to the table.

Speaker Jacobson, for the record, would you please introduce your witnesses.

Madam Chair, to my right I have Tim Mercer, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and to my left I have Mr. Darrin Ouellette, director of corporate services.

Thank you, Speaker Jacobson. General comments.

Detail. We’ll stand down page 1-7 and come back to that at the end. Legislative Assembly, infrastructure investment summary, information item.

Page 1-9, Legislative Assembly, revenue summary, information item. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Welcome, Mr. Speaker, and Board of Management. Just a clarification, I’m looking at the amortization of capital contributions. We had a $1,000 in 2011-2012, nothing in 2012-13 and we see the $1,000 return in the main estimates. I know it’s a small number, but it’s more the pattern of activity. Can we get an explanation of that amortization of capital?

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Ouellette.

Thank you. Page 1-9, Legislative Assembly, revenue summary, information item.

Thank you. Moving on to page 1-10, Legislative Assembly, active position summary, information item.

Page 1-13, Legislative Assembly, activity summary, Office of the Clerk, operations expenditure summary, $7.738 million.