I support this act. The reason I support it is that we are setting a precedent here by amending the act to put in an independent board director and making that person a public servant. In doing this, we are opening the door to other groups in the Territories that are delivering programs for us to become public servants. I am really glad this has come forward because a lot of questions were brought up in the past under the Public Services Act, where we wouldn't be able to allow members of independent boards to become public servants. I would like to say I am really glad this section was put in there because it has opened the door to other public servants out there, although they are part of an independent body, they can become public servants. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly has indicated his intention to retire from the position after 23 years of service to the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to name an individual to fill the position of Clerk;

AND WHEREAS Section 54(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides that the Clerk shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories on the recommendation of the Board of Management approved by the motion of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Board of Management is prepared to make a recommendation;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Timothy Mercer be appointed Clerk of the Legislative Assembly by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Board of Management of the Legislative Assembly;

AND FURTHER, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of the appointment to the Commissioner.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, June 16, 2003, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Timothy Mercer be appointed Clerk of the Legislative Assembly by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Board of Management of the Legislative Assembly. And further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of the appointment to the Commissioner.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time today I will seek unanimous consent to deal with my motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are elected by our people to represent them. We are not elected to pawn off difficult decisions to other Legislative Assemblies. I would like to ask the Premier, if the Public Utilities Board has decided that it is going to create an extra burden on one group to have one rate zone, is it not in reverse that it is creating a burden on the one group by having a different rate zone? Now, somewhere down the road we are going to have to meet in the middle. This is the same thing that is going on all through the Territories. Everything that we are doing we are either pawning it off or we are not making decisions on it. All these strategies, and we do not make decisions on them. So I would like to ask the Premier, since we represent the people of the Territories why can this Cabinet not make a decision, or are they going to go ahead and approach the Public Utilities Board on behalf of the people of the Territories to make it fair and square for everyone? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier if he could give direction to his Cabinet to treat everybody fairly by implementing or giving direction to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation to proceed with plans to create a one-rate zone for the whole territory or even a two-tiered rate zone for hydro by itself and diesel by itself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did not get an answer there if he agreed with me that we are creating a hardship, but I would like to ask him again. We know the average cost is still higher in the smaller communities than they are in the communities on the road system or on hydro. For instance, people are paying over $300 for a residential home in Colville Lake where they are only paying less than $100 in Fort Smith. I do not think this is fair. I would like to ask the Premier if he agrees with me that we should be treating everybody fairly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question for the Premier was, by creating different rate zones and different costs, higher costs, for the smaller communities, we are creating a hardship for them. Does he not agree with me? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi. As everybody in the House here knows, the cost of living in most of the smaller communities is high. Especially for those who are on diesel generation. By having different rates for electricity in the Territories we are creating a hardship on top of the extra burden of the high cost of living in the communities. I would like to ask the Premier if he agrees with me that, by having different rate zones, we are creating extra hardship. Thank you.