Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to provide opening comments on Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act.

Mr. Chairman, as Members know, every four years the Assembly reviews its pension legislation with a view to ensuring that it remains current on pension trends as well as to make changes that are recommended by our pension plan administrators. This bill reflects the result of our review of the existing legislation.

Mr. Chairman, this bill makes a number of changes to the pension plans. One of the most significant...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Today I would like to talk about contaminated sites in Tu Nedhe. As we are all aware, there is a lot of resource activity in the Tu Nedhe riding. In fact, all the diamond mines and many other exploration activities currently underway are in Tu Nedhe. In addition, there are many sites within the community boundaries that must be cleaned up by various GNWT departments as soon as possible. Also, there are sites inside and outside the communities that must be cleaned up by the federal government.

The people of Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my left is Mr. Tim Mercer, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. On my right is Ms. Lana Birch-Rideout with the legislative division of the Department of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m pleased to provide opening comments on Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act.

On May 11, 2010, the Report of the Independent Commission to Review Members’ Compensation and Benefits was tabled in the House. The report made a wide range of recommendations regarding the allowances and benefits to which Members of the Legislative Assembly are entitled.

This bill enacts many of the recommendations of the independent commission that require legislative change. Other recommendations will be introduced via regulation and Board of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the second time.

Bill 2 amends the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act to provide that allowances payable under the two acts may be divided upon the breakdown of a marriage or conjugal relationship outside marriage and to adjust the calculation of allowances for a Member who ceases service after October 18, 2011. Additional options...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, moved into Committee of the Whole today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek consent to proceed with second reading of Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I mentioned in my Member’s statement that I thought the Interim Resource Management Agreement would be a good avenue. I’m just wondering if the Minister could give me a status and what the funding is surrounding the Interim Resource Management Agreement. Thank you.

Yes, I would, Mr. Chairman.