Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a general comment on the appropriation. This year there was a large appropriation in the bill for the forest fire fighting. I am wondering if there is some type of policy the government actually has in place when we are looking at expending those monies to fight fires do you target, for example commercial stands of wood first, before you would fight a fire? Do you look at cabins that might go down as private property? It seems like a large amount of money. How does the department decide which fire to fight, when you look at the budgeted amount? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Infrastructure reviewed Bill 8; An Act to Amend the Property Taxation and Assessment Act, on September 23, 1998. The committee would like to thank the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and her deputy minister for presenting the bill. The bill extends the time period from nine to ten years within which a reassessment or a revision of the assessed value of assessable property must be carried out before the assessed value lapses. For properties within the General Taxation Area, the nine-year period ends October 31, 1998. Although the department has stated that assessments will be completed on time, there would be serious consequences if unforeseen events were to delay the completion. Bill 8 provides an extra level of comfort by extending the nine-year period to ten years.

The committee agrees that an extension will provide an extra degree of security, but stresses that regular and timely assessments are needed. The committee was also concerned that there were some communities within the General Taxation Area that may have not been assessed or have not paid any portion of property taxes due. Mr. Chairman, the department explained that all properties have been assessed and, although the collection rate is low in comparison to the total amount payable, the Department does adhere to accepted overdue collection procedures.

Mr. Chairman, following the committee's review, a motion was carried to report Bill 8; An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, to the Assembly as ready for the committee of the Whole. Additional comments or questions of Members may be posed as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Infrastructure Committee reported that Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act was ready for committee of the whole. I would like to now seek unanimous consent to waive rule 70(5) and have Bill 8 ordered into committee of the whole consideration for today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister explained earlier, the functional program design is indeed to see what is needed in the facility to be constructed and what that price tag would be. The Minister has referred to the $25 million envelope that has been originally outlined. I am wondering where the consultations with the health board are right now within the $25 million envelope and indeed to move it forward. Have there been discussions about maybe phasing the facility over the next couple of years to allow for the scope of the project that was called for in the program function design?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the response that the Minister speaks about getting back to the Baffin Regional Health Board, if in the best circumstances that response came back in the next two weeks let us say, would that mean that indeed the P3 project for the Baffin Regional Health Board or the Baffin Regional Hospital would be moving forward? Within the next couple of weeks, a month or what type of time-frame are we looking at?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the functional program has been submitted by the Baffin Regional Health Board to the Department of Health. I understand they have had it now for some time. I am wondering if the Minister could update us exactly what is the expectant time-line of the review by the Department of Health would be completed?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier today Mr. Ng made a statement concerning the update on the P-3 projects and the hospital facilities. I would like to follow up on that statement and ask some questions concerning the functional program review. I am wondering if the Minister could give us some clarity on exactly what is involved with the functional programming?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak about two important conferences occurring in Iqaluit this week. One is dealing with suicide prevention measures and counselling training. This workshop builds on previous conferences with many people participating from across Nunavut. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish the conference organizers and participants much success with this important topic. The second conference has brought approximately 400 delegates from all across Nunavut, Nunavik and the south for a Bible related meeting. Many Iqaluit residents have opened their homes to help billet the large gathering. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents who have helped house the approximately 400 people. I would also like to wish them well with their meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seconded the motion because I thought that after seeing the non-receptive way that NAV Canada has dealt with the issue of the service fees, not only now, but last year when it first came up, and again this past summer in Iqaluit when we had the Baffin Leaders Summit, and a representative of NAV Canada, we tried to articulate our concerns with the fees and the detrimental effect it would have on the Baffin region. Over here in the west, in most cases, we do have the road system, but we still have the problem with the service fees and smaller planes. In the east, we have no roads and it magnifies and multiplies the effect of the traffic tariff that is being put in place by NAV Canada. So, with that, Mr. Speaker, of course I will be supporting this motion and, hopefully, our federal Minister of Transportation will be able to make some kind of move on this and use the hammer that is within his legislative ability, and hopefully say to NAV Canada once and for all that, indeed, the north is a unique place, and let us help keep it unique, and take these service fees and these tariffs that NAV Canada wants to introduce and throw them out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.