This is page numbers 679 - 714 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 community.

Topics

Further Return To Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, a number of the airlines, NWT Air, Ptarmigan, I believe, and some others have been working with us to develop a cost-effective GPS system, which we can hopefully put into effect in the coming years. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Supplementary To Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Any time you try to do something new which costs money, things take a long time. I would like to ask the Minister, does he have any idea about, not a timetable, but how responsive the federal government is to this idea of doing this work in the territories, so we can have a safer industry in one of the most difficult parts of the world to operate?

Supplementary To Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is a great deal of enthusiasm for this new technology and it is being used in the United States at this time. It was used in the Gulf War. So there is a great deal of enthusiasm at the federal and territorial levels to try to get this system into place, in particular, when it comes to an area like this where, for a number of us, it is the only mode of transportation. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Question 322-12(6): Use Of Global Positioning System In Northern Aviation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

November 1st, 1994

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance. Last year, the new Tobacco Tax Act was passed and restrictions were placed on the amounts of tobacco products that an individual could bring into the Northwest Territories. One of the concerns during the discussions of the bill were the issues raised about the ability of our law men to enforce this act. So my question to the Minister of Finance is how is the Tobacco Tax Act being enforced?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there is a lot of cooperation between Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, ourselves and Yukon with regard to an agreement we have to prevent cigarettes from being smuggled into any of those jurisdictions. Sometimes we get tips from other jurisdictions that tobacco and, in some instances, liquor is being moved into the Northwest Territories illegally. One of those tips has turned into a court case in Norman Wells. We have had good cooperation from our RCMP. In Iqaluit, again, the same thing: there was a tip-off to the RCMP. Again, there was good cooperation. We are not out there as policemen looking in every car and checking every package that comes into the Northwest Territories, but for the most part, we are acting on information provided to us, Madam Speaker. We are acting on information that falls out of audits. We are receiving good cooperation from the RCMP. The law is being used properly and the RCMP are not having any problems enforcing that law. Thank you.

Return To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Fred Koe Inuvik

There is some cost to enforcing any law, so I am wondering if the Minister has any idea or can he estimate the cost to enforce this Tobacco Tax Act?

Supplementary To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, we have people in the Department of Finance who work on taxation issues all the time. I don't know how much of their time is spent enforcing the Tobacco Tax Act. I can try to ascertain what that is and provide the information to the Member. As far as when the police are called in to make a prosecution or do a search, that is covered under the agreement that we have with Canada for paying for 75 per cent of the RCMP costs in the Northwest Territories. Again, I don't know what that cost is, but as far as our own costs, I will try to ascertain what they are and how much time is being spent on it, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi. Currently, our biggest law enforcers are the RCMP. Over the past few days, the Minister has been aware of some of the issues concerning the use and deployment of RCMP officers throughout the north. Generally, people in the communities want the RCMP to be used to deter or to solve crimes. So how much of a priority, with respect to law enforcement, is being put onto the RCMP, as compared to more areas that are people-related in terms of criminal activity?

Supplementary To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, before implementing the tax and making the changes to the Tobacco Tax Act, we discussed the issue with the RCMP and they said they would act when called upon. Our particular concern was Iqaluit, and I have said that in the House before. They sit right on top of Quebec and we know that this is where the problems started with the lowering of the federal tobacco taxes. There is probably greater attention paid to it in Iqaluit than there is in the rest of the Northwest Territories.

But as far as how far down the scale it is with regard to other areas of problems in communities with people or crime, I would say it falls below those. It is not a high-priority issue. It isn't something that I have got lots of pressure on the RCMP for, saying get out there and catch these people. We, as I have said before, usually act on information provided to us in specific circumstances or provided to the RCMP and then we ask them to act on it. It isn't a high priority with the RCMP as far as I am concerned. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 691

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. When we pass laws and debate laws here, we are always looking for some benefit; a benefit to the people of the Northwest Territories. In our discussions leading to the act, we talked about some of the so-called benefits to people such as their health. The higher prices would maybe reduce smoking, so can the Minister give us some ideas of the benefits since the enactment of the Tobacco Tax Act?

Supplementary To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, numbers that we looked at for the first three months of last year versus the first three months of this year, indicated an increase in tobacco sales in the Northwest Territories.

With regard to the benefits to the Northwest Territories, we protected the $2 million that we were likely to lose because of the lowering of the federal tax and we picked up above the $2 million, some more money because we raised our taxes. We are still very concerned about the number of young people who are smoking in the Northwest Territories. We believe that price is a deterrent to more people smoking greater volumes and taking up the habit. But, Madam Speaker, I can't say that raising the prices made a lot of people stop because our numbers don't indicate that. I would say that we are merely holding our own against people smoking. I believe there is still an increase, particularly in young women, smoking in all of Canada and the same in the Northwest Territories. I believe, Madam Speaker, we have more smokers per capita in the Northwest Territories than statistically across Canada. It is still a great concern to us.

Thank you.

Further Return To Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Question 323-12(6): Enforcement Of Tobacco Tax Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions, Mr. Clerk.

Item 8: Returns To Written Questions
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions

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Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Madam Speaker, Return to Written Question 4-12(6) asked by Mr. Patterson to the Premier concerning policies on advertising supplements.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Patterson asked three questions regarding the placement of advertising supplements in Above and Beyond magazine.

1. What was the cost of advertising supplements in Above and Beyond magazine featuring NWT Housing Corporation, MACA and Education?

Above and Beyond magazine has a circulation of 30,000 copies per issue, 17,000 of which are distributed in the Northwest Territories. In the territories, the magazine is sent by direct mail by the publisher to municipal and community governments, their council members, the membership of territorial and regional aboriginal and non-aboriginal organizations, business and industry. It is also available as an inflight magazine on First Air.

The following information indicates the cost of placing advertising supplements in the magazine by various departments and the number of additional copies of the insert that were delivered to each department for additional distribution purposes.

Housing Corporation; date - October 1994; cost - $35,310; extra copies - 1,000; Education; date - April 1993; cost - $35,000; extra copies - 2,500; MACA; date - December 1992; cost - $27,310; extra copies - 700; MACA; date - October 1991; cost - $35,400; extra copies - 600.

2. Is it the policy of the Government of the Northwest Territories to purchase advertising copy from publishers who present the advertising as if it was an editorial copy without identifying it as a paid advertising supplement?

No. Identification of the copy as an advertising supplement is the prerogative of the publisher.

3. Is it not the policy of the Government of the Northwest Territories to tender such significant advertising supplements to northern publishers so as to give every northern business equal opportunity for government advertising business?

Contract regulations generally require tendering for contracts over $5,000, but exceptions can be made in the case of sole-source contracts when only one party is considered capable of performing the work. As there is more than one magazine publisher in the NWT, departments will be directed to make sure they invite proposals for the production of special advertising supplements.

Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

1. What is the average cost of a teacher's aide within the school system?

Student support assistants are funded through the inclusive schooling funding formula. Five and one-half person years are provided through this formula for every 1,000 students enrolled. The funding allocated for each student support assistant person year is $32,000. The salaries and benefits for student support assistants provided by school boards, excluding vacation travel assistance, totals $38,000. Student support funding is in addition to the school funding formula.

2. How many special needs students are there in the NWT school system?

In some jurisdictions in Canada, students with "special needs" are identified and counted under categories of exceptionality. In these jurisdictions, funding for "special needs" is based on obtaining categorical data and establishing incidence levels of "special needs" students. However, this approach is changing across Canada, and the Northwest Territories is considered a leader in implementing an inclusive schooling philosophy in North America.

Rather than identifying "special needs" students, the Northwest Territories, and a number of other provinces, assess students in terms of the support services they need to succeed, such as adaptations of their school programs.

Most students need some support at some time in their schooling. The type and amount of support varies according to the needs of each student, and naturally some students have greater needs than others. Our goal, through an inclusive approach to schooling, is to provide the support services each child needs to succeed.

In the spring of 1993, we completed a report called, "Student Support Services Information System: Classroom and School-Community Profiles," which analyzed the data we had collected on the number and types of support services required by students in classrooms in all NWT schools. We had gathered this data through a survey completed by classroom teachers. Teachers were asked to complete a profile in which they identified the number of students they had in their classes who were receiving a particular service, as well as in their opinion the number of students who needed a particular support services, but were not receiving it. Thirty-two support services were identified in the profile and they were grouped into four broad categories: personal assistance; counselling services; programming assistance; and, rehabilitation services.

The report indicated that about 30 per cent of the school population is receiving at least one of the 32 services, while about the same percentage require a service or services which they are not receiving. This does not mean that 60 per cent of our student population needs support services; many of the students who were identified as needing a particular support service, which they were not receiving, were already receiving other support services. The report concluded that an estimated 30 per cent of our student population requires one or more support services.