Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Villeneuve raised a couple of examples in the sense of bad debts versus the publishing of names in the area of property taxes. The situation that comes out of this is how the different acts work. For example, under the situation of municipal taxes, specifically the act requires that that information be made available. On the other concern about making it known who’s applied, what debts, how much debt is attached, is something that we have heard and taken into consideration. I am moving ahead in bringing to my FMBS colleagues the change that we have...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all I would like to state that we are, as a government, looking at tightening up how we deal with those that would come requesting funds. The process that would have been used, whether it was the application process, a lot of the funds that are available to groups in the Territories would be based on applications being made, proposals being put forward and a structure of how it would operate, including board members, the program that they were going to operate, and what results they were hoping to achieve. So going into it there would be a substantial amount...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I would.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there is a long history with this Northern Addictions Services program and non-profit organization that tried to have services provided to residents and we don’t have all of that detail here. On the specific numbers dealing with the Department of Health and Social Services, about $112,000 was initially issued out in the 1999-2000 year for a utilization plan. As well, there was a further amount in 1999-2000 of approximately $7,200 for training initiatives. There has been no accounting for that. That’s why we’re at the stage we are, and the organization is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s a pleasure to recognize Ms. McLeod, the new deputy director of human rights.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the total amount is $350,000; $150,000 of that was in preferred shares and that is the amount that we are accounting for through this write-off. We are no longer able to count on those preferred shares as an asset. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have the information on the actual dollar figures at this point. I can share with the Member or committee members if there is a concern about that, but what we’ve done is work with the Department of Justice who required this space, who knew there was a budget to operate within, and based on those parameters with the results that came back with the RFP, had discussions with the proponent, being the Department of Justice, and there was agreement that this was the best avenue to work in. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there is work underway and if there is further clarification needed for members or as we proceed forward and get the next piece of the work done, we will gladly share it with members as how things are flowing. We have shared the third-party accountability framework that we have begun to implement, as well as the processes that are in place that we have built in. As the Minister of Education stated earlier, the flow of funding on a quarterly basis instead of giving it all upfront is one of those areas. It is difficult. On a yearly basis, we can...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to provide an update on the government's fiscal situation.

The budget I presented in this House in March laid out a fiscal plan that would allow us to achieve the goals of NWT residents while achieving fiscal sustainability. The budget did not make dramatic changes. We wanted an opportunity to consult with northerners before finalizing our plans for the term of the 15th Assembly. As Premier Handley noted in his sessional statement yesterday, this House has consulted with NWT residents to help us set an overall vision and goals for the government and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, October 15, 2004, I will move that Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2004-2005, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.