Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m pleased to present the 2008–2009 estimates for the Legislative Assembly.

As Members know, the Assembly’s Main Estimates are drafted and considered by the Board of Management as opposed to the Financial Management Board. As an independent branch of government, the Legislative Assembly is not bound to implement the fiscal policy of the government with respect to planned expenditure reductions. This being said, it has been the practice of the board in recent years to make every possible effort to implement expenditure reductions for the Assembly when these have been...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don’t know if there’s been any formal discussion on it yet. I know that the Chief Electoral Officer is an area that, now that the elections are over with, is going to do some investigating on and working with MACA and the possibility of doing that.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we’re eliminating one position. However, we’re adding a new finance administration clerk position, so that offsets the position. That’s why the total employees is the same.

Legislative Assembly, Activity Summary, Office of the Clerk, Active Positions, information item (page 1-14), approved.

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Good morning, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber.

  Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the House. Before we begin the business of the day, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the passing of a former member of our Legislature, Mr. Arnold McCallum. Mr. McCallum was first elected in 1975 during the 8th Council/Assembly and served in this House until 1987 for the riding then named Slave River.

Mr. McCallum passed away Sunday, May 25, 2008, in Digby, Nova Scotia. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family.

Good morning, colleagues. Welcome back to the House. Before we go to orders of the day, it’s a special day for a couple of our Members today. Mr. Beaulieu has a birthday.

Applause.

Welcome back to the House.

Good morning, colleagues. Welcome back to the House.

Members, before we begin today, I would like to draw your attention to the Canadian flags that are on your desks, marking National Flag of Canada Day.

Applause.

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the House.

Before we begin, colleagues, I would like to point out that we have special interpreters joining us today. The Assembly is assisting in a pilot project operated through the Yamazhaku Society with support from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to obtain interpreters in our aboriginal languages. The Assembly has agreed to provide the training experience for these students.