Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can I get information as to what percentage of the building is occupied at the moment with government employees? Approximately?

I wonder if the Minister could provide us with the information as to what work is going to be done with this interim budget and if whether or not that meets a minimum requirement to sort of keep the project floating, so to speak. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. May I have the information on how long the department is planning on working, how long it would take to have this project completed?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question in regard to the renovation of the Laing Building and Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the information that the Minister provided as requested by the committee members. I think that the information that the Minister provided in terms of the history of the renovation of the building and the different options that were considered by past Assemblies, confirms what I was hoping that he would confirm, which is that the building needs work and that renovating that building is the most economical option. With that, my question is: I see in the interim budget there is $445,000 allocated for the first four months of this year, but the target is $3.5 million. I am wondering if that target represents the whole 100 percent of the project and if that target was meant to be spent this year?

Currently the government leases warehouses and other costly storage space to store vast amounts of records. See page 1, operations and maintenance, departmental submissions, PWS, 2000- 2001 interim appropriation.

The committee noted that a more current records storage system, including microfiche be considered, to ensure better use of existing space and perhaps a more manageable records system.

Further, the committee noted that this is not a new area as previous Legislative Assemblies have made this recommendation as well.

Committee members recommended that the government's record system might be better managed and operated with the adoption of a more current records management system.

However, the department replied that although it provides the lead for records management for all government departments, the departments are responsible for their own records management.

Further, the department summarized that the government is only in the infancy of its records management and will take some progress before a more current records management system can be considered.

That concludes the committee's comments, Mr. Chairman.

Committee members raised the issue of renovating the Laing Building, one that has a long history.

Further, the committee pointed out that there is much unutilized office space being leased by the government to which the potential and existing tenants of the Laing Building could move.

Furthermore, members suggested that all options should be considered if larger or more specialized spaces are required, including private sector investments.

The Minister, at the request of the committee, agreed to provide the members with a rationale and a briefing by department staff to explain the proposal for further renovations for the Laing Building.

The petroleum revolving fund has a limit of $5 million. The purpose of the fund is to subsidize the storage and distribution of petroleum products in 17 remote communities in the Northwest Territories. Committee members, in light of the recent increase in the price of oil, the petroleum revolving fund may have exceeded its $5 million limit.

The department replied that the fund currently has a deficit of $2.8 million and is projected to add another $1 million in debt for the upcoming fiscal year. The Minister further explained that increases in the price of petroleum products in the department's client communities averted any chance of the fund exceeding its cap.

Committee members commented that the prices of petroleum products were already high and the recent price increase made by the department did not help any. Many consumers are also not aware of subsidies for fuel.

The committee noted that the high price of fuel especially affects the elderly and those on income support. This puts extra strain on the resources of the government's social envelope. Many consumers are also not aware of subsidies for fuel.

Committee members recommended that absorbing any increases in the price of fuel may very well mean savings for the government in other activities, such as within the social envelope.

At the request of the committee, the Minister agreed to provide the fuel pricing rationale for review by Members. The committee also recommended that subsidies for fuel be clearly identified for the consumer.

Privatization of Petroleum Products Division (PPD)

Committee members were concerned that if the PPD were to be privatized, it should be sold in its entirety to one corporation, thus ensuring economies of scale are maintained. Any community not supplied by the potential purchaser will require further fuel price subsidization by the government, which will no longer have any economy of scale of its own. The result of not selling the entire operation to one entity would most likely mean higher levels of government expenditures to maintain an affordable level of fuel pricing in unserviced communities.

Committee members also noted that by selling the PPD, subsidies to the fuel price might no longer be possible, as the government will no longer be in the petroleum storage and distribution business.

The government, at the request of the committee, agreed that if the petroleum products division was to be considered for sale, a call for proposals would be publicly advertised, and the division be sold as a single entity.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee met with the Minister and his staff on March 17, 2000, to review the proposed 2000-2001 interim appropriation for the department. The committee made note of the following issues.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wondering if the department has more power than God Him or Herself. But seriously, Mr. Speaker, we have Winspear, Diavik, and Lupin who are doing all they can to get their supplies over there. We have grocery stores that are not going to have enough supplies. We only have two or three days notice now. I know the Minister is going to have meetings with the federal Ministers about our conditions in building roads. I would like to know if the Minister will seriously consider the option of building a bridge over that water?