Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For today we’re talking about the Taiga lab and the money for the staff. The actual building itself is in an advanced state of decrepitude and is going to need some significant upgrading. The issue that the Member is talking about, we could probably be talking about during the business planning process as we move forward. Thank you.

Thank you for the Minister’s comment, and I recognize that there is a process for that. Looking at the Taiga Environmental Laboratory and I hope to take some of those lessons learned from that laboratory within the government that we would see something like that in our region in the future. But I’ll deal with it during the business plans.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. I’ll take that as more of a comment here. I’d like to turn over the floor here to Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to follow up on the earlier question about the transitional allowances for eligible devolved employees. I’m interested in that information for all departments. It looks like it has been three departments probably, three or four departments. Will this cost be derived from I believe it was the $23 million, the one-time costs to implement devolution? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. For that, we’ll go to Mr. Aumond.

Thank you, Mr. Aumond. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The last question I have, are the mine inspectors that transferred over, are they in ITI or, sort of, ENR, because I believe that’s the department we’re on here, or are they in ITI or Lands? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe they’re in Lands. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Okay, committee, we’re on page 15, Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, corporate management, not previously authorized, $91,000; environment, not previously authorized, $500,000; forest

management, not previously authorized, negative $82,000; water resources, not previously authorized, $586,000; conservation, assessment and monitoring, not previously authorized, $7,000. Total department, not previously authorized, $1.102 million. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Page 16, Lands, operations expenditures, directorate, not previously authorized, $38,000; planning and coordination, not previously authorized, $1.036 million; operations, not previously authorized, $157,000. Total department, not previously authorized, $1.231 million. Does committee agree?

Does committee agree we’ve concluded consideration of Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2014-2015?

Thank you, committee. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. We’re just waiting for the final document to circulate. The motion is in order and the motion is not debatable. The motion is carried.

---Carried

I’d like to thank our witnesses here tonight. Mr. Kalgutkar and Mr. Aumond, thank you for joining us. If I can get the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses out of the Chamber.

Okay, committee, as previously agreed upon here earlier today, we are going to go to Bill 8. With that, we’ll go to the sponsor of the bill for opening comments. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to introduce Bill 8, Write-off of Debts Act, 2013-2014. The bill authorizes the write-off of debts and assets listed in the schedule to the act.

Pursuant to Section 24 (3) of the Financial Administration Act, Legislative Assembly approval is required for the write-off of government debt that exceeds $20,000.

Pursuant to Section 82 (2) of the Financial Administration Act, Legislative Assembly approval is required for the write-off of a debt to a public agency that exceeds $20,000.

I wish to emphasize that a write-off of a debt does not relieve a debtor of the liability for repayment. The government or public agency will continue to collect the outstanding amount. Through continued monitoring by staff, future recovery of the debt may still be achieved.

The debts and assets being presented for write-off relate to the NWT Business Development Corporation.

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

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. I will now turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations that considered the bill for opening comments. Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed Bill 8, Write-off of Debts Act, 2013-2014, at a meeting on May 29, 2014. Following a clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report to the Assembly that Bill 8 was ready for consideration by Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s comments on Bill 8. Individual members may have comments or questions as we proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. I’ll now turn it to the Minister if he has witnesses he would like to bring into the House.

Yes, Mr. Chair.