Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Next on my list I actually have Ms. Lee, but Mr. Menicoche has not spoken to the budget yet. So I’ll go to Mr. Menicoche for a general comment.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Next on the list for general comments I have Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you. Then we will proceed with general comments for Bill 19, Appropriation Act, 2005-2006. Mr. Braden, general comments.

I will call Committee of the Whole to order. There are four bills before committee today. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide the House with the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development report on the review of the 2005-2006 Draft Main Estimates.

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development -- GED -- met from January 13 to January 18, 2005, to review the 2005 - 2006 Draft Main Estimates. The GED envelope includes the departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Environment and Natural Resources, Public Works and Services, Municipal and Community Affairs and Transportation.

As a result of the restructuring...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A fairly direct question then to the Premier with respect to one of the things on one front for sure we are not ready for, and that is on this government and the northern governments being in a position to share in the immense royalty revenues that will be generated for the federal government. We are not in a position to share in those. If, when it comes time to start constructing a Mackenzie Valley pipeline and there is still no royalty sharing agreement in place, should the pipeline proceed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is not debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two petitions. This is a petition signed by probably about 2,400 people petitioning against of the closure of Dene K’onia and the remand facility in Hay River.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Finance. I wish I could get excited about all the good news in the budget, but there are some unhappy things…

---Laughter

There is a lot of good news in the budget and I think everybody knows, including Mr. Roland, that I think he does a very good job. I wouldn’t want to be the Finance Minister for any amount of money. I think he did a good job today and some people in the gallery even said…

---Applause

Some people out in the Great Hall today said it was the best budget address they’ve ever heard. But I’ve...