Mr. Speaker, as I stated, we must be fair and equitable when we are delivering the Income Security Program. As I stated before, when an individual has an RRSP, it could be a substantial amount, we don’t know the actual number, but we could use, let’s say, a figure of $200,000 to $250,000, for example. If the individual has that compared to other small community members who do not have any of that, we just have to be fair to these individual clientele. Having individuals receiving $1,200 from a small community that does not have anything versus an individual that may have RRSP of the same amount, we have to deal with this public money fairly and equitably.

As I stated with policies, any policies that require amendment or changes, I am always open to that. What Member Bisaro is referring to is an area that we should look at, so by all means, my department will look at options that we may consider down the road. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be short. I guess I have to say to the Minister that the idea of fairness apparently is individualized, because I certainly don’t agree with the Minister’s characterization of fairness.

My last question, since he mentions that RRSPs need to be cashed in, I would like to know from the Minister what it costs the department to allow people to keep a RRSP. What extra money is the department spending to allow me to keep my RRSP and to give me a little bit of income support? Thank you.

As the Member knows, within our GNWT department there are various areas of subsidies that individuals can qualify for, whether it be training on the job or productive choices, those are some of the areas that we have provided over the years. Again, when we talk about income security as a basic needs subsidy programming, those that are in desperate need of subsidizing in a community, we found that over the years and have made some changes in

2007 and 2011 and we will continue to make those changes. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Time for oral questions has expired. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

I would like to take this time to recognize the Aurora College business admin class that’s in the gallery above me. A special welcome to Danita Allaire, she is a Fort Simpson constituent, as well as Sasha Hazenberg, a former resident of Fort Simpson. Also, welcome to the teacher and other students present with them. I hope you are enjoying question period as part of your introduction to a government course. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, replies to budget address, day two of seven. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of standing and special committees. Item 14, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 15, tabling of documents. Item 16, notices of motion. Item 17, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act, be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Thank you, colleagues, I would like to remind the Member that we are not on the first reading of bills yet, we are on notices of motion. It caught me off guard too. Item 18, motions. Item 19, first reading of bills. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the second opportunity to try to get this through the House. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act, be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Bill 43 has had first reading.

---Carried

Item 20, second reading of bills. Item 21, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 188-17(5), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016; Bill 38, An Act to Amend the Jury Act; and Bill 41, An Act to Amend the Partnership Act, with Mr. Dolynny in the chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We would like to consider Tabled Document 188-1(5), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Does committee agree?

Okay. We will commence after a short break. Thanks.

---SHORT RECESS

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. We have Tabled Document 188-17(5), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016, before us. We have agreed to begin with general comments. I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance if he’d like to bring witnesses into the Chamber. Minister Miltenberger.

Yes, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Does committee agree?

Agreed. Thank you. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses to the table.

For the record, Minister Miltenberger, would you please introduce your witnesses.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have with me the deputy minister of Finance, Mike Aumond; and the deputy secretary to the FMB, Sandy Kalgutkar. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. I will now go to Members for general comments on main estimates. Mr. Yakeleya.