This is page numbers 459 - 477 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th 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 make.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 469

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, when this issue was under discussion, some of my constituents who are merchants who sell tobacco predicted that, particularly in Iqaluit, northern tobacco sales would be eroded as smuggling and other means of purchasing cheap tobacco from Quebec and Ontario would be pursued by residents of my constituency, including food orders and direct mail campaigns.

The Minister said the tobacco tax revenues are holding. Has he had a chance to look at the trend in Iqaluit and the eastern Arctic which have ready access to cheap tobacco in Quebec; tax-free tobacco? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 469

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 469

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, there have been illegal tobacco products detected in Iqaluit. I believe that matter will soon be before the courts. There was another incident in Norman Wells, where Alberta and ourselves discovered somebody who was bringing in tobacco, and that will go before the courts shortly. I'm not saying that there haven't been any incidents of smuggling in the Northwest Territories. There certainly have been two that we've been able to catch.

With regard to direct mail, we are discussing with Canada Post this week whether it is legal to put those flyers into mailboxes because they had told us they weren't going to do that. We will try to get that matter straightened away.

Two weeks ago at the Ministers of Finance meeting, the western Finance Ministers got together to discuss the issue of Manitoba who is sort of right on the front line, as Iqaluit is, with regard to being next to jurisdictions where there are lower tobacco taxes. Manitoba is not seeing any erosion of their market either, and they attribute that to the fact that most Canadians are honest people and they are not interested in smuggling. I think that is the case in the Northwest Territories as well, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I am aware of an incident in Iqaluit where there is a business person who believes they are seeing lower sales; whereas, our records indicate the same, if not greater, supplies going to that particular merchant. We are trying to work out that problem, to see where this discrepancy is occurring. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 469

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 469

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Madam Speaker, I am going to send the Minister of Finance the flyer I got in my mailbox which gives a 1-800 number and offers sale prices on Canadian name brand

cigarettes. I would like to ask the Minister, if such information about such solicitations -- which makes no mention of paying territorial taxes -- is provided to the Minister, as I'm going to do today, does the Department of Finance have the capability of investigating these people and, in cooperation with whatever jurisdiction it is where this offer is coming from, preventing these people from selling directly to our residents without paying territorial tax? Will he act on such information? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 470

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 470

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'm not sure what flyer Mr. Patterson has in his possession, but if it's the same one we had last week, then we're already acting upon it. But, I would like to get a copy of the flyer. I think it is on its way to me. Rest assured, the Department of Finance will do whatever it can to follow this issue up and to prevent it happening in the future, if we can. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Question 234-12(6): Tracking Of Tobacco Tax Revenues
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 470

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

May I remind honourable Members that when they are going to discuss an issue that is not known to the House, that the normal procedure is to table documents and then question accordingly. Item 6, oral question. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Madam Speaker, historically speaking, there are some elders in the NWT -- mostly native people -- who have been eligible to receive old age pensions, even today, and who are not receiving them because of incorrect records. When the missionaries, the RCMP and the federal government came, some of these people were still living in outpost camps.

I know people in my area today who are not receiving a pension, due to incorrect records. My question to the honourable Minister is, would the honourable Minister direct her regional staff or community staff to go into the communities and enquire who in the communities are old enough to receive old age pensions and who are not receiving them? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Return To Question 235-12(6): Survey Of Eligible Pensioners In Communities
Question 235-12(6): Survey Of Eligible Pensioners In Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 470

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, thank you for the question. I really feel this is an area that has been addressed. I have already asked the regional directors if, somehow or another, we can be more accommodating at the community level by giving some of the responsibility to the liaison field officers who are operating in the community. My understanding is that the social workers have done some of the necessary documentation to get enough of a record, so that elders can be registered and recognized. So, Madam Speaker, I will check again and see if we are progressing as well as I had hoped they would by this time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 235-12(6): Survey Of Eligible Pensioners In Communities
Question 235-12(6): Survey Of Eligible Pensioners In Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 470

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

As by-law officers carry out a number of municipal enforcement functions in our communities which affect all of our constituents; would the Ministers responsible for the departments of Justice and Municipal and Community Affairs please advise this House of the following:

1. What NWT statutes, regulations or policies are by-law officers authorized to enforce?

2. What legal protection over and above that of an ordinary citizen is afforded by-law officers in NWT municipalities under:

(a) the Criminal Code of Canada; and,

(b) any NWT statutes, regulations or policies?

Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Would the Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services please advise this House of the following:

What percentage of women, resident in the NWT, aged 50 to 69 received a mammography screening in the years:

1.1991-92;

2.1992-93; and,

3.1993-94.

What percentage should expect to receive such screening in the current year?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My written question is to the Minister of Personnel.

Would the Minister of Personnel please provide this House with a list of the number of GNWT employees presently in staff housing who are now eligible for the so-called "hardship allowance" for rent subsidy compared to the total number of GNWT employees resident in staff housing? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 471

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Report On Bill 15

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 471

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Madam Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Legislation has reviewed Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, and wishes to report that Bill 15 is now ready for committee of the whole.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 471

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Pursuant to rule 17(5), Bill 15 is ordered into committee of the whole. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

Page 471

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 39-12(6), a mail order flyer announcing sale prices on cigarettes. Thank you.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

Page 471

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 14-12(6), "Open For Business" Privatizing the Northwest Territories Power Corporation; Tabled Document 23-12(6), Report of the 1993-94 Electoral District Boundaries Commission Northwest Territories; Minister's Statement 11-12(6), Return to Session; Committee Report 6-12(6), Report on the Review of Bill 3 - Guardianship and Trusteeship Act; Committee Report 10-12(6), Report on the Review of the 1995-96 Capital Estimates; Committee Report 11-12(6), Report on the First Annual Report (1992-93) of the Languages Commissioner of the NWT; Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96; Bill 2, Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act; Bill 3, Guardianship and Trusteeship Act; Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Arctic College Act; Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act, with Mr. Ningark in the chair.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

October 23rd, 1994

Page 471

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. The committee will come to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 471

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend the committee consider Committee Report 6-12(6) and then Bill 3.