Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for his answer. I just want to know if the Minister is willing to commit his department to developing a strategy which will address the growing number of bison in all the sanctuaries of the NWT, which include five, I believe. Also, outside the community of Deninu Kue where the Hook Lake herd has basically developed into a herd in itself, I guess, by government standards. I'm just curious as to what initiatives the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is going to undertake to help these communities to develop some kind of sustainable management action plan to work with these herds because as in this budget address the funding for the management of that herd is reduced significantly, by about 30 percent, when actually the herd has probably grown by the same percentage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have an issue I would like to bring forward to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. The issue has probably been roaming in the minds of many northern drivers and will soon be roaming in the minds of many NWT golfers and probably residents of Yellowknife if not addressed soon. This is concerning the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary herd. As everybody is aware, the new road system has had some major developments and improvements in the last few years which has allowed drivers to reach their destinations a little quicker, which means they're going a little faster. That, along with the significant increase in the number of bison and traffic over the last five years, I just want to ask the Minister what steps the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is going to be taking, if any, in the near future to address the rising number of occurrences of vehicle-related accidents on our highway system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to speak a little about an ongoing issue that this government has been working toward for the last few sessions. Mr. Speaker, this government has had many initiatives and policies in place to address the issues of a low number of aboriginals within the GNWT workforce. Mr. Speaker, although the intent of these initiatives and policies are honourable and have realized some degree of success, I believe that the government still does not put their whole heart into achieving the desired results it says it is committed to and continues to make aboriginal training and hiring for higher-level government positions a low priority.

Mr. Speaker, just reviewing some of the new initiatives this government is embarking on with respect to filling management positions which our aging government will be vacating and will have to be filled in the very near future, I cannot express my dismay more when I cannot see any aboriginals or very few who have been included or prioritized in these initiatives.

Mr. Speaker, if this government is committed to increasing the representation of northerners, specifically aboriginals, in the public service, I'd be supportive and have more trust in this government and the commitments we make to our constituents if every department made a concerted effort to ensuring that these priority issues are being followed through at all levels of government. Mr. Speaker, during my tenure in this government I would like to see some concrete evidence that aboriginal employees and potential aboriginal employees in every sector of this government are utilized to their fullest potential and given every opportunity and due consideration as available candidates for these higher-level government positions.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I hope this government can address this issue in an open and transparent manner and work toward resolving this ongoing issue in a continued and concerted basis with all the departments. This government is a reflection of the people we serve, and it is my intention to ensure the residents of the NWT that the GNWT is looking into the right mirror at this fair and not one that may be distorted by hidden agendas or underlying principles of equality and fairness which we strive to uphold and maintain on a daily basis. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful once again to be here with my fellow MLAs and look forward to the work that we will be carrying out in this Third Session. I would also like to recognize four Grade 8 students from Tu Nedhe who will be working as Pages in the session for the remainder of the week. They are Nakita Enzoe and Jared Marlowe of Lutselk'e, and Robyn Balsille and Tyler Delorme of Deninu K'ue.

I would also like to recognize the following Tu Nedhe students who also attended the 2004 Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray. They are Vanessa Sanderson, Glen Collins and Jody Miersch of Deninu K'ue; and, Rocky Catholique and Damien Kailek of Lutselk'e.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to extend my congratulations to Ms. Marilyn Sanderson of Deninu K'ue who received the 2004 Wise Woman Award for the South Slave region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the payroll tax is something of an unknown for this government in making any real change in it because of this harmonization policy. What I'm getting at, Mr. Speaker, is I'm just wondering how the Minister intends on making some positive policy changes that would curb the practice of employees in the mine, like you would get 10 or 20 employees with the same address. They're all living in the NWT but they all have the same address. It basically just goes to show they've found a loophole in our taxation policies, and I'm just wondering how the Minister plans on addressing that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland. I know everybody has been hearing a little bit more back room grumblings about the growing inequities in the employment within the mining industry of aboriginals and northerners; that the mining industry is reaching a point where they're just barely meeting their quota for northern employment. With the growing number of mines that are going to be opening in the future, I think this gap is going to keep growing. My question, Mr. Speaker, is that I've been hearing some concerns from some employees of these mining industries that some non-resident employees are taking advantage of our northern taxation policies. I know changes in these policies are also being hindered by the Government of Canada's taxation harmonization policy. That's why we're having a hard time recovering more dollars from non-resident employees and making it more fair and equitable for our northerners.

The issue I want to raise with the Minister is that I know that a lot of the non-resident employees of these mining companies are starting to take up residence just north of the NWT border in areas like Hay River, Enterprise and Fort Smith. That makes them qualify for these northern allowance benefits. Every two weeks there's a mass exodus going south after the shift changes. People are just taking addresses and filling them out on their application forms to the mines that are situated in these communities, which qualifies them for the northern benefit allowances.

I just want to ask the Minister what measures he is going to make to ensure that the northern allowance benefits are taken advantage of by northerners only, and not by southern employees who do not reside in the NWT on a full-time basis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a quick statement today. I just want to express my sincere condolences and the condolences of the 15th Legislative Assembly to the Delorme family and Deninu Kue, who have lost three family members in the past three years. The last member that they lost was just over the last Christmas holidays. Mr. Speaker, I just want to let the family know, and their many friends and relatives, that we are aware of the loss that they're suffering and that our thoughts and our prayers go out to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll try again.

---Laughter

WHEREAS Rule 85 of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly prescribe and describe the mandates of the Standing Committees of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to make changes to the mandates of the Standing Committees to better reflect their work and to equitably apportion responsibilities among committees;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the rules of the Legislative Assembly be amended by rescinding Rule 85(2) and substituting the following:

(2) The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight shall;

a) Review issues which have government-wide implications including the overview of the budget and fiscal framework;

b) Review multi-year business plans, budgets and bills of the Department of the Executive, including the executive offices, the Financial Management Board Secretariat, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, and the Department of Finance;

c) Consider the budgets and financial management of any other boards and agencies that are outside the responsibility of any standing committee;

d) Examine the reports on the annual financial statements and public accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the report of the Auditor General.

1. (i) In the event that the Assembly is not in session, the Speaker may provide the Auditor General's report and the Minister of Finance may provide the public accounts to the committee for review, which may include public hearings in advance of tabling;
2. e) Review government reports on financial and performance results and program and policy evaluations to ensure anticipated outcomes are being achieved and accountability is maximized;
3. f) Review, as necessary or appropriate, the annual and other reports of statutory officers of the Legislative Assembly, including the Commissioner of Official Languages, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the Equal Pay Commissioner and the Human Rights Commissioner;
4. g) Coordinate House business scheduling and planning in cooperation with appropriate Cabinet representatives; and

h) Consider any other matter referred by the House.AND FURTHER that Rule 85(3) be rescinded and the following substituted:

(3) The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development shall consider the following matters with respect to the departments of Public Works and Services, Municipal and Community Affairs, Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, and Transportation:

a) Review multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, and boards and agencies including the Workers' Compensation Board, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, the NWT Development Corporation, the Business Credit Corporation and the Public Utilities Board;

b) Review departmental performance, including that of boards and agencies; and,

c) Consider any other matter referred by the House.

AND FURTHERMORE that Rule 85(5) be rescinded and the following substituted:

(5) The Standing Committee on Social Programs shall consider the following matters with respect to the departments of Health and Social Services, Education, Culture and Employment, Justice, and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation:

a) Review multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, boards and agencies, including the Status of Women Council, and programs for Seniors, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities;

b) Review departmental performance, including that of boards and agencies; and,

c) Consider any other matter referred by the House.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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