Thank you, yes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, the Division Measures Act. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to be here today to present the Division Measures Act, 1999, which amends various acts so that plans and agreements relating to the establishment of Nunavut can be implemented. Many of these amendments are formalities that now need the legal basis to be put in place. As Members will recall, we have already brought forward some division measures legislation. This is the final instalment.

Just to refresh everyone's memories, under Section 76.05 of the Nunavut Act, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories has the authority to amend or replace the laws of Nunavut before they come into force on April 1, 1999. This authority can only be used on the recommendation of the Interim Commissioner and only after the GNWT consults with the Chairman of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. Representatives from the Office of the Interim Commissioner and NTI worked closely with GNWT staff in the development of these bills in a cooperative and collegial manner and the Interim Commissioner has provided his approval on the Nunavut specific bills in a letter dated March 11, 1999. As well, NTI has been consulted and has provided a letter of support for the Nunavut bills.

Some of the proposed amendments are purely editorial and the rest provide the legal basis to implement changes necessary for the smooth transition to Nunavut and the affirmation of the new Northwest Territories. Mr. Chairman, I will quickly summarize the amendments proposed within this omnibus bill.

In the Electoral Boundaries Act, the date of repeal is moved up from June 30, 1999, to March 31, 1999.

The Flag Act is amended, as is the Floral Emblem Act, so that the flag of the Northwest Territories and the floral emblem for the Northwest Territories do not apply to Nunavut.

The Public Service Act is amended to ensure the smooth transition of GNWT employees whose positions are located in Nunavut over to the Government of Nunavut. Amendments are being proposed through both the Division Measures and the Nunavut Statutes Amendment bills.

Through the Division Measures bill, we are proposing that the Public Service Act be amended to provide that GNWT employees in positions in Nunavut will cease to be members of the Northwest Territories public service as of March 31, 1999. To complete the picture, Nunavut Statutes Amendment bill proposes that the Public Service Act of Nunavut be amended to provide that GNWT employees become members of the Nunavut Public Service on April 1, 1999, with all the terms and conditions of their employment intact. Together, these amendments will provide the legal basis for a seamless transition of those GNWT employees who work within the geographic area of Nunavut over to the Government of Nunavut. It is important to note that we have consulted with the Union of Northern Workers on this legislation. Similar consultation has occurred between the Nunavut Employees Union and the Office of the Interim Commissioner. Both organizations have indicated their willingness to support these amendments.

The amendments to the Commissioner's Land Act and to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Act are intended to transfer certain interests and obligations respecting lands in Nunavut, both Commissioner's lands and lands where the Housing Corporation has assets and buildings. The interests and obligations, which include title, mortgages, leases, liens, et cetera, will be transferred over to the Commissioner of Nunavut and the Nunavut Housing Corporation, respectively.

The other amendments to the Income Tax Act, Interpretation Act, Statute Revision Act, are of a technical, editorial nature and are very straightforward. These proposed amendments, Mr. Chairman, are part of the final set of legislative changes that we need to make in order to make Nunavut and the new Northwest Territories a reality. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On my immediate right is the one and only. Mr. Lew Voytilla, deputy minister of the FMB.

--Applause

Mr. Chairman, the Interim Appropriation Act for the 1999-2000 fiscal year is required because the main Appropriation Act for the upcoming year is still under development, pending completion of the Main Estimates and review by standing committees. The government needs interim appropriation authority by April 1, 1999, to allow it to make expenditures for continuing operations in accordance with the Financial Administration Act, which requires that no government expenditures be made which are not pursuant to an appropriation.

The interim requirements were calculated based on operating needs for the first three months of the 1999-2000 fiscal year. Although the present legislative schedule anticipates approval of the 1999-2000 Appropriation Act during the month of April, the three month operating requirements will prevent a problem should there be any changes in the session schedule.

Departments developed their requirements using the 1999-2000 projected level of spending. The interim appropriation amounts were based on the estimated requirements in four areas:

1. Salaries, wages and benefits for the seven pay periods falling between April 1, 1999, and June 30, 1999.

2. Amounts required to fund grants and contributions for the first three months of 1999-2000.

3. Other operations and maintenance requirements. The requested appropriation authority provides for the commitment of the full value of contracts that must be entered into during the first month of the fiscal year. In accordance with the Financial Administration Act, the full amount payable under these contracts during 1999-2000 must be charged to an appropriation when the contract is signed.

4. Interim requirements for capital expenditures for multi-year projects with contracts which span the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 fiscal years and projects where deadlines, due to shipping requirements or other factors, required early approval.

The authority issued under the Interim Appropriation Act expires once the 1999-2000 Appropriation Act is assented to in the Legislative Assembly. The 1999-2000 Appropriation Act will replace the Interim Appropriation Act retroactive to April 1, 1999. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Baffin South, that Bill 8, Interim Appropriation Act, 1999-00, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the GNWT to make interim appropriations for the 1999-00 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Baffin South, that Bill 8, Interim Appropriation Act, 1999-00, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As well, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a status report on the Individual Equal Pay Settlement Agreements. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Background Paper Negotiating Equal Pay at Collective Bargaining.

Tabled Document 4-13(7): Status Report: Individual Equal Pay Settlement Agreements