The question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion carried. Bill 2 had its second reading. Second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South that Bill 3, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operation Expenditures), No. 3 2015-2016, be read for the second time. This bill makes supplementary appropriations for operations expenditures for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

The question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion carried. Bill 3 has had second reading. Second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 2-18(2), Interim Estimates, 2016-2017; Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, with the Member for Hay River North in the chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I now call the Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to review Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does Committee agree? We will take a brief recess and resume with the first item.

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I now call Committee of the Whole back to order. We have agreed to consider Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. Mr. Blake, would you please introduce the bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to provide opening comments on Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. This act currently provides for an automatic cost-of-living increase to MLAs' salaries on April 1 of each year. This increase is based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for Canada over the preceding two years. If Bill 1 is not enacted, MLA salaries will increase by 1.1 per cent on April 1, 2016. This amounts to $30,000, including salaries paid to MLAs who hold additional responsibilities, such as Speaker, Premier, Ministers, and Committee Chairs. Bill 1 will eliminate the cost-of-living increase to MLAs' salaries scheduled to take place on April 1, 2016 and 2017. This amounts to a two-year freeze on MLA salaries at their current levels and is consistent with the freeze on salaries for deputy ministers, senior managers, and excluded employees recently announced by the government. The Board of Management of the Legislative Assembly feels that MLAs must lead from the front during these challenging fiscal times. I look forward to answering any questions you may have. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber, Mr. Blake?

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Thank you, Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. Blake, would you please introduce your witnesses.

Thank You, Mr. Chair. With me today is usually my right-hand man, but today he's my left-hand man. Here is Mr. Tim Mercer, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and Mr. Ken Chutskoff, legislative counsel.

Thank you, Mr. Blake. I would like to now open the floor up to general comments on Bill 1. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know that informally, since the beginning of the 18th Assembly, many of us have talked about the idea of freezing MLA wages. I'm happy that at a point in time the Minister of Finance made a recommendation to the Board of Management to give this further and more official consideration. I am certainly supportive. I reiterate the fellow Member's comments that this is not going to a measure that is going to make a bunch of big savings for us, but that it's an opportunity to show that we are committed to leadership by example in trying fiscal times, so I will be supportive. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In times of economic downturn and fiscal restraint, it's important to show leadership and I welcome this amendment to the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act that does exactly that. It puts MLAs in a position where we can show our commitment to the public service we provide and to clearly lead on the front of accepting a reduction in our own salaries so we can get to work and find those cost savings that our government now requires to provide the things we were elected on and the same standard of government services that people have relied on. I only wish that this had come first, quite frankly. I think it would have been much bolder. Considering the very limited amount of cost savings that this exercise will provide to the government, I think taking the lead on this should have come before we made the announcement for other salary adjustments for the other classes of employees. I have made comments on or asked questions of the Minister of Finance on excluded employees before, and I still strongly caution that we might be taking a heavy-handed approach to freezing salaries for all public servants. However, I do support this measure and I will be in full support of this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister of Finance.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I commend the leadership shown by the Member, the mover, and the seconder, the Board of Management, and all Members of this Legislative Assembly by, as a couple of Members have already pointed out, leading by example. I think it's something that we need to do and I will be happy to support this bill. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I too support the bill. I think it's appropriate in this day of our government, when we are under some financial restraints. I think that the people of the communities and the people out across, even, all of the communities, including the regional centres and Yellowknife, would support us doing this, and I think it's something that shows that we are prepared to tighten our own personal belts as well, when it comes to looking for some additional revenue, so that we can continue to provide the programs and services to the people that they have become accustomed to. I support this. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Seeing no further comments, does the Committee agree that we conclude general comments?