Debates of Oct. 1st, 1992

This is page numbers 1241 - 1290 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Education Meetings In The Sahtu Region
Economic Development In The Deh Cho Region
Yellowknifer Editorial "parliamentary Fun And Games"
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Co-defendants In Health Centre Court Case
Question O911-12(2): Community Health Representatives
Item 8: Replies To Opening Address
Committee Report 19-12(2): Standing Committee On Public Accounts: A Further Report On The Review Of The Financial Statements Of The Government Of The Northwest Territories And Report Of The Auditor General For Canada For The Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 1991
Committee Report 20-12(2): Special Committee On Health And Social Services, Interim Report No. 2
Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
Tabled Document 100-12(2) "a Proposed Private Member's Public Bill" To Amend The Liquor Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
To Adopt Recommendation No. 36
To Adopt Recommendation No. 37
To Adopt Recommendation No. 38
To Adopt Recommendation No. 39
To Adopt Recommendation No. 64
To Adopt Recommendation No. 65
To Adopt Recommendation No. 66
To Adopt Recommendation No. 67
To Adopt Recommendation No. 77
To Adopt Recommendation No. 78
To Adopt Recommendation No. 40
To Adopt Recommendation No. 41
To Adopt Recommendation No. 42
To Adopt Recommendation No. 43
To Adopt Recommendation No. 44
To Adopt Recommendation No. 45
To Adopt Recommendation No. 46
To Adopt Recommendation No. 47
To Adopt Recommendation No. 48
To Adopt Recommendation No. 49
To Adopt Recommendation No. 50
Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Bill 9: An Act To Amend The Insurance Act
Revert Back To Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
Susan Aglukark
Item 21: Orders Of The Day

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Information item, Business Loans and Guarantees Fund.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Next page, details of work performed on behalf of third parties.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Revenues, recoveries and transfer payments.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Page 17-22, distribution of budget.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Now back to page 17-7, program summary, total O and M $34.228 million. Mr. Gargan.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, can I ask the Minister to provide me with information with regard to the Business Development Credit Corporation. I want to find out what the differences are.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Program summary, total O and M $34.228 million.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Now does the committee agree that we conclude with this budget.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

September 30th, 1992

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Estimates, yes. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Todd. Pardon me, I would like to thank the witnesses for spending this very valuable time with us. Mr. Todd.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can we proceed with the next department, the Department of Finance, please?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Does the committee agree that we proceed with the Department of Finance?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Madam Premier, you have opening remarks on behalf of the department. Mr. Todd.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

I just want to be assured that it is not 55 pages, before she starts her opening remarks, Mr. Chairman.

---Laughter

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. I will leave that up to Madam Premier.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Chairman, it is 53.

---Laughter

Introductory Remarks, Department Of Finance

No, it is not that long. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The 1992-93 budget of the Department of Finance contains very limited forced growth funding. No new initiatives are being proposed.

The department's service responsibility to all departments, and to many boards and agencies continues to be of high priority. During the upcoming year, the procedures and computer systems that support the financial operations of the government will need to be revised to accommodate the extensive reorganizations and decentralizations planned by many departments. These systems must be revised to ensure the processing of financial transactions in an efficient manner, and to meet the needs of the government.

Mr. Chairman, the department's budget reflects growth in the following areas:

- Interest expense related to borrowing to cover the projected cash deficit during the latter part of the 1992-93 fiscal year;

- Increased funding for power subsidy programs arising from volume and price increases in electrical power used by Government of the Northwest Territories' consumers outside of Yellowknife; and

- Increased cost in computer usage due to rate and volume changes being experienced by the central accounting system. This system is used by all departments, however, the budget is located in the Department of Finance.

In an effort to minimize the impact of these forced growth areas, a total of $399,000 and 5.9 person years cuts were made to the department's budget.

An additional funding decrease of $596,000 resulted from the reduction in interest required for the bonds issued to purchase the N.W.T. Power Corporation, since each year 10 percent of the principal is repaid.

In total, the department's budget will increase by only $553,000 over the original 1991-92 Main Estimates.

Mr. Chairman, this budget represents a significant decrease in activity by the department over the 1991-92 fiscal year. In total the budget represents a decrease of $1.975 million from the revised 1991-92 budget. Thank you.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Madam Premier. Does the Standing Committee on Finance have any comments, on behalf of the Finance Committee?