David Krutko

Mr. Speaker, I do encourage all residents of the Northwest Territories, especially here in Yellowknife…. There will be hearings at the Northern United Place on Tuesday at nine o’clock in the morning. I think it’s important, even as MLAs, that we do talk about the issue of rural poverty, because it is something that affects all our residents.

Again, I’d like to ask the Premier: will the cabinet be meeting with the Senators to also, in light of other issues that we have in the Northwest Territories such as the Northern Accord and also dealing with devolution and any other problems we may have...

Operations expenditure appropriation, appropriation authority required: $381,275,000.

Total Interim Appropriation for Operations Expenditures, $381,275,000 approved.

Do the Members agree that there are no further general comments and we can proceed? Are we agreed that we continue on with page 3 of the supplementary appropriation? Clause by clause of the interim appropriation?

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Senators who will be making an attempt to travel to the Northwest Territories and travel throughout the North in regard to the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut and look at the issue of poverty in the North and especially in aboriginal communities. It is important that the Northern leaders, the representatives, MLAs and our government work with them to come up with some ideas on how to deal with poverty in aboriginal communities.

The thing that appalls me the most is who is not taking part in this journey: the Conservative...

Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, appropriation authority required: $14,958,000.

Industry, Tourism and Investment, $14,958,000 approved.

For the record, Mr. Roland, could you introduce your witness.

Okay.

Education, Culture and Employment, appropriation authority required: $86,516,000.

Education, Culture and Employment, $86,516,000 approved.

I’ll call Committee of the Whole back to order.

Bill 1

Interim Appropriation Act, 2008-2009

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 1, Interim Appropriation Act, 2008-2009. I would like to report progress. I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Education, Culture and Employment, appropriation authority required…. Mr. Bromley.