We have training sessions with the employees on disclosure. We have a Harassment-Free and Respectful Workplace Policy that clarifies personal harassment within the GNWT and the public service. We are trying to let individuals know that if they do disclosure in any of those areas that I spoke of, it would be a safe disclosure.

The only thing we could come up with on why there has been so little uptake is people actually don’t feel safe disclosing with the public service, with their supervisors, management and so on. I too get a lot of calls where I indicate to the people that this is an opportunity if you think this is what’s going on, do it this way. But their preference is to have the Department of Human Resources handle it in the way that they wish to have it handled through my office, through the deputy minister’s office and so on.

We are trying to get the word out to people that there would be safety in disclosure. Thank you.

I’m glad to hear that the Minister of Human Resources, who is undertaking this Safe Disclosure Act, is in fact also hearing from employees that there are some issues around health and safety in other areas that have been identified. That means there is a stronger need or a stronger support for employees.

As the Minister responsible for Human Resources, would he make a commitment to do a campaign where our Minister of Human Resources affirms to our employees that he’s behind them, to speak up and get some of these issues drawn out on the table, either in an awareness campaign on the radio or in a news release, that he commits to supporting our employees that they have the right to work in a safe and healthy environment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will commit to getting information out advising the public service, most likely on our website. That would indicate that we support people who wish to disclose in any of these areas. If that still doesn’t generate anything, then we may go to sending out a form letter to all of the staff in the public service. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Government Operations wishes to report that it is reviewing Bill 37, Financial Administration Act, and would like to inform the House that additional time is required to complete the committee review of Bill 37.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 14, tabling of documents. Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two documents I would like to table today. One is a media release that was put out on February 12, 2015, entitled “Elder Abuse – ‘Duty to Report’ Should be Enshrined in Law.” There was unanimous agreement by CARP Poll.”

The second one is a comprehensive strategy to eradicate elder abuse founded by the Canadian Association of Retired Persons. I would like to table both these documents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 12, Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan Act; Bill 38, An Act to Amend the Jury Act; Bill 41, An Act to Amend the Partnership Act; Bill 46, Deline Final Self-Government Agreement Act; Committee Report 10-17(5), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2013-2014 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories; and Tabled Document 188-17(5), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order for this afternoon and ask what is the wish of the committee. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We wish to consider Bill 43 and then Tabled Document 188-17(5), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016, continuing with Environment and Natural Resources and, time permitting, Municipal and Community Affairs and Department of Lands. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Is committee agreed?

We will commence with that after a brief break.

---SHORT RECESS

I would like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. The committee has indicated before the break that they would first like to deal with Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The purpose of Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act, is to increase the short-term borrowing limit from $275 million to $300 million.

The amendment is being proposed in order to provide the short-term borrowing authority needed to make a $25 million corporate income repayment on March 31, 2015. The current limit will be exceeded by approximately $12 million once this payment is made. On April 1, 2015, the GNWT will once again be within the current limit making this a short-term cash requirement, however a necessary one. That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. I’ll now ask the chairman of the Standing Committee on Government Operations if he would please provide the response to the bill from the standing committee. Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations has been considering Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act.

Bill 43 was given second reading and referred to the standing committee on February 9, 2015. Bill 43 is a little bill with a potentially big impact. For this reason, the standing committee wanted to ensure the due diligence was exercised during the review. The standing committee provided notice to stakeholders of its intention to hold a public hearing on the bill which took place on Friday, February 20, 2015. While the standing committee did not receive any public input on the bill, a number of questions were asked of the Minister regarding the need for an increase to the GNWT’s short-term borrowing limit.

A motion was carried to report to the Assembly that Bill 43 is ready for consideration by the Committee of the Whole. While this concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 43, individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. At this time I will ask Minister Miltenberger if he would like to bring witnesses into the Chamber.

Yes, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Does committee agree?