Okay. So we’ll start with the infrastructure investment summary, which we will defer until after the details. So we’ll start with airports, which is pages 9-3 to 9-5. First of all, I understand there are no opening remarks, so will the Minister bring witnesses in with him?

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Committee, we are on page 9-14, Department of Transportation, activity summary, road licensing and safety, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $698,000. Agreed?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. I’m not sure the Minister can commit to the next Assembly but… Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I moved, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Tabled Document 75-16(5), Response of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project on the Federal and Territorial Governments’ Interim Response to “Foundation for a Sustainable Northern Future” be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration.

Thank you.

Thank you, committee. The next section we have is on page 9-13 through 9-15. Road licensing and safety. On page 9-14 is the financial section. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to start by saying that I’ve been listening closely to the remarks that have been made by the Ministers and there was considerable material that I agree with and support, but I want to note in most general initial comments here that I recognize the international economic considerations and to some extent the decisions of this government have placed us in a position where I recognize the need to support the government’s fiscal strategy that sees us through these times of uncertainty. I stress that we have a combination here of the international sort of globalized...

Yes, so the first was firm and reasonable controls on the actual amount of additional charges. So I will look for that.

As the Minister knows, it is a much more expeditious, faster process if those can be in first rather than coming to committee to, again, identify them later and go back, a time-consuming approach. The new law is meaningless, however, without enforcement, Mr. Speaker.

We learned in recent media reports that MACA officials don’t monitor lenders’ practices to prevent abuses. People being ripped off have to use the courts, which is difficult, costly, and, for most people...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of MACA, the Minister responsible for consumer protection. It is regarding the control of payday loan gouging. I understand that a legislative proposal may be underway, the first step in creating laws to control these abuses. We certainly need action now. I am wondering if this Minister is moving forward quickly on this. Can we expect solid support from this Assembly for the fast-tracking of this law to protect not only Yellowknife residents but travellers from communities caught short on money when they are in the capital? Will the...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s commitment to this and I think it is something that we are hearing a lot about and I guess when it comes forward, I am wondering if the Minister would accompany it with some information on the degree to which this exists in other communities. I know it’s a big one in Yellowknife and the people from other communities are being taken advantage of in the city. So it would be good to have that information, as well, from other centres. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, that gets into my second question here. I think there are two essentials for any law on this. The first is that firm and reasonable controls on the actual amount of additional charges, that can be attached to a loan agreement. So I’m hoping that there will be those controls as well as the clarity and declaration to the customer.

The Quebec legislation, which is considered the most strong -- and I hope that is being referenced by the folks drafting this bill -- establishes a percentage ceiling that forbids additional charges exceeding a certain percentage of the principal amount.

The...