Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Member's correct; at this stage it does hurt individuals for credit rating as we find ourselves at this stage, because it's already gone through the collections process and was not recovered. As I stated earlier, there are a number of factors that come in, but it is primarily done…The initial counselling or discussion of trying to set up prepayment plans is done within departments and boards and agencies. Because it's such a broad spectrum of groups that are involved, whether it's specifically with departments or agencies, there are a number of...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With me at the table is the secretary to the FMB, Mr. Mark Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to introduce Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2006-2007. This bill requests authority for the forgiveness of certain debts listed in the schedule of the act.

Pursuant to section 25(1) of the Financial Administration Act, the forgiveness of a debt or obligation to the government exceeding $1,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval.

When a debt is forgiven, no further collection action shall be pursued.

The forgiveness of certain debts being proposed in this act will not require a new appropriation. Allowances for doubtful accounts were charged to an...

Yes, that’s correct. The WCB is fully involved in their own process. It comes to our table again just because of the Financial Administration Act and we put it through this final stage. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the public service health care plan deals with about 1,600 pharmacies across the country and deals with other organizations as well as ourselves. We've made contact with administration for the public service health care plan. We've informed them of our displeasure in this area in the changes and that it's not satisfactory, and trying to see if they would be willing to reconsider going back to the method done previously. At this point, we are still not getting very much response in that area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would have to get that detail. I am unsure if Nunavut has to follow the same process. It is a joint coverage. I am not sure if their FAA is written identical to ours. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this issue we were made aware of recently as the members of the public and our employees were contacted, human resources as well as Members, regarding the change that was put in place by the public service health care plan administration. We became aware just early this fall with regard to changes. They were posted on their website, of the changes effective. The notice went out on their website in April to become effective in August. We became aware of it recently. We're paying much closer attention to that website of any further changes coming up....

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The company would have been registered in that province and filed in that province. The portion we received was applied to that account and that would be directed by the courts what creditors would be given with what’s available. In this case, this is the amount we were not able to recover and hence we are coming forward for a write-off. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Premier stated and comments raised in this House by Members, the whistle-blower legislation portion has been discussed a number of times. The Member for Range Lake has made this an issue on a number of occasions, and we have taken that and begun to work on it. I'm, very shortly, going to be presenting my Cabinet colleagues with the beginnings of a discussion paper and then if I get approval at that stage, I'll be coming to the Members with that discussion paper and see from there if we go out for public discussion on that basis, and then, from...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, that debt is being forgiven as a result of a court settlement. Thank you.