This is page numbers 155 - 182 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 5th 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 languages.

Topics

Availability Of Assistance For Preparation Of Income Tax Returns
Item 3: Members' Statements

February 15th, 1994

Page 159

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to speak today about income tax return preparation assistance presently available in the communities of my constituency. What I am about to speak of, is likely the case in most smaller communities. Every year, there are problems with the availability of people who can help prepare income tax returns.

Although there are some people in the communities who offer this service, there is some concern regarding the quality and accuracy of returns that are prepared. I have been told that mistakes have been made where people were told by the person who prepared their returns to expect a refund, only to find out later they are owing taxes instead.

Sometimes this is quite a shock when they find out they owe a large amount of money. This has been an ongoing problem for many years. There is a need for more professional people to provide this service to my constituents.

Madam Speaker, there is also an urgent need for more information to be circulated in the communities regarding the goods and services tax. People need to understand what they should be doing with regard to this tax. If they are running a small business, they should know how much they should expect to get back if they are eligible for a refund.

These are two urgent matters that need to be addressed so people in smaller communities have the assistance and information required to keep their finances in order. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Guidelines For School Closures In The Nwt
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 160

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. During the cold snap in January, there were school closures all over the southern Northwest Territories. Some had to do with busses not running and some were just out of concern for the well-being of the children. Madam Speaker, Fort Providence was no exception to this. The school was officially closed for three days. My problem with this, Madam Speaker, is after the three continuous days off were given to the kids, it was decided that the closure could not continue indefinitely, especially since it appeared the cold weather had no intention of leaving any time soon.

What they did in Fort Providence was make an announcement that the school would be open for business for any student whose parents felt they should attend. Attendance was not compulsory. It was the parents' choice if their child should attend.

My problem with this arrangement is that it penalizes those students whose parents do not have a vehicle to get them to school. I, personally, would not have wanted my children to walk to school on some of those days in question.

Madam Speaker, I believe I am under the mistaken impression that we are supposed to have compulsory education in the Northwest Territories. All students under 16 are required to attend school when it is open. Where do we draw the line, Madam Speaker, between children's safety and the requirements that students attend a certain amount of school each year?

In the Northwest Territories, we are occasionally get these extreme cold spells. Perhaps we should look at the school closures while they are happening and add those days to the end of the year. Madam Speaker, the guidelines in the Education Act are perhaps too stringent in what they allow the school boards and the principals to do. This is an area that I encourage all local education authorities, divisional boards and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to develop a set of guidelines covering school closures. We need some concrete plans, not the wishy-washy solution recently implemented in Fort Providence. Thank you.

---Applause

Guidelines For School Closures In The Nwt
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 160

The Speaker

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.

Protection From Ultraviolet Rays
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 160

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the communities I represent, because spring is coming around the corner, people will be travelling out on the land. They will be travelling a great distance. I would like to tell the people who I represent, the people in my constituency, with regard to my response yesterday from the Minister of Health, that they will have to use sun block lotions, and they will have to protect themselves from ultraviolet rays. It is very important that they should use sun block lotion when they are going out on the land. I would like to encourage them, during my statement, that they will have to take this with them when they are going out on the land so they will be healthy. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Protection From Ultraviolet Rays
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 160

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements.

Protection From Ultraviolet Rays
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 160

An Hon. Member

(Microphone turned off)

Protection From Ultraviolet Rays
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 160

The Speaker

The time clock wasn't on, so you were fortunate today.

---Laughter

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will be speaking in my language. I think it was yesterday, the Minister of Finance gave a statement about the budget. He talked about Economic Development and Tourism. As a result of that, now Economic Development will be working differently in the way they come about having their budget. There were some other things he said. Changes will result in smaller communities being able to benefit from them. As a result of that, I think economically they will be gaining. I think if they take that direction it will be beneficial for smaller communities.

In the past, the small communities, when they wanted economic gains and they met with the government they would have to wait a long time before their proposals were considered. Now that they have an area superintendent and they are able to borrow $250,000, I feel thankful for that. If policies like that are adopted, the small communities will be able to benefit economically. If they are able to borrow money in a hurry then it will be good for them. So I think it will be good. This is all I will be saying. Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would just like to add to my Member's statement, earlier.

The Speaker

Mr. Pudlat, I've been advised that apparently you did want to ask for an extension at the time for your Member's statement, and to seek unanimous consent to continue with your Member's statement. However, the interpreters did not advise this House. Therefore, I went on to another Member's statement. If you are now seeking consent to continue with your statement, I believe you have to ask for approval from the House.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Madam Speaker, I'd like to complete by statement.

The Speaker

Mr. Pudlat is seeking unanimous consent to carry on with his original statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Continue, Mr. Pudlat.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker and my colleagues. Madam Speaker, I was talking with regard to income tax preparation returns. People who need assistance in preparing their income tax returns in their communities...Madam Speaker, in the Northwest Territories I would like to encourage the Government of the Northwest Territories to make available chartered accountants in the communities so they will be available to assist the people who need assistance in preparing their income tax returns. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Before I proceed with oral questions, I would like to provide the House with my ruling on the point of order raised by the Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis, yesterday during question period.

Speaker's Ruling

I think it is important to remind the House of the circumstances that lead up to Mr. Lewis raising his point of order. The Premier was in the process of answering the supplementary question originally posed to the Minister of Personnel by the honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson. The supplementary question posed by Mr. Patterson is contained on page 305 of the unedited Hansard. Although the preamble to Mr. Patterson's supplementary was long and his actual question was, and I quote, "For the new long-term staff housing strategy, are there similar guidelines or procedures available for government employees when they are dealing with questions and implementing that strategy?"

The Premier then proceeded to answer the supplementary question and indicated in the first part of her response the following, and I quote again from page 305 of the unedited Hansard, "I have been looking at Hansard and looking at some of the questions. I would like to bring into perspective the process that we started with and why we are here in terms of the long-term staff housing policy, or strategy, so everyone will have the same information. Some of the questions and supplementaries will be incorporated in this explanation." My review of the unedited Hansard indicates that the Premier then proceeded to give an explanation of the process of establishing and implementing the long-term staff housing strategy. My review also indicates that the Premier did not specifically answer Mr. Patterson's question until just before Mr. Lewis raised his point of order and, in fact, the Premier was just beginning to specifically answer Mr. Patterson's question when Mr. Lewis' point of order interrupted the honourable Member for Nunakput.

To the point of order raised by Mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis in raising his point of order indicated that, and I quote from page 306 of the unedited Hansard, "This is a long response and it is very unclear to me what the question is that this response is being made to." As I indicated yesterday, there is nothing in our rules that indicates the time frame that should be allotted for reply to oral questions. The chair can get guidance from other authorities and numerous cautions and advice from the chair by our former Speakers in the matter of asking and answering oral questions. I quote from Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules and Forms 6th edition, citation 410 (5) "The primary purpose of question period is the seeking of information and call the government to account." I am sure all Members will agree that this is the primary purpose, and to ensure the efficient use of question period there are a number of general principles that should guide us. The point of order raised by Mr. Lewis provides the chair with an opportunity to provide the House with a number of principles that I hope will guide all Members in posing questions and Ministers in responding. It will also give notice to all honourable Members how I intend to approach the conduct of question period. I would like to offer a couple of citations from Beauchesne's 6th edition:

Citation 408 (1)(e) "Such questions should not be of a nature requiring a lengthy and detailed answer." Of course, written questions are the item on the order paper for these types of questions. In saying this, however, there are times a Member's questions may get a lengthy answer from a Minister when one is not needed.

The following citation I also considered in making my ruling. Citation 409 (11) "A question which seeks an opinion about government policy is probably out of order in that it asks for an opinion and not information. A question asking for a general statement of government policy may be out of order in that it requires a long answer that should be made on motions (now statements by Ministers) or in debate. Other questions inevitably deal with government policy and the general restrictions regarding such questions have never been applied."

These citations assisted me when dealing with asking questions and the type of questions that should be asked. The other side of the question period, of course, is the answers by Ministers. I offer a citation again from Beauchesne's 6th edition.

The chair feels that the following citation is appropriate when dealing with the point of order before us today, and I quote citation 417 "Answers to questions should be as brief as possible, deal with the matter raised and should not provoke debate."

I rule that Mr. Lewis does have a point of order as the Premier did indicate in her response that, and I quote, "Some of the questions and supplementaries will be incorporated in this explanation." If the primary purpose of question period is the seeking of information and to ensure that the ordinary Members can get this information, and the Ministers have an opportunity to provide the information, it is important that efficient use of question period is made. I would suggest that the Premier did try to answer questions and supplementaries that had been taken as notice on previous days, as well as earlier yesterday by the Minister of Personnel. There would have been an opportunity for the Minister of Personnel and the Premier to provide a response in the item "returns to oral questions," or by using other avenues available on the order paper such as tabling of documents. The chair, however, is cognisant of the fact that the Premier was trying to provide information to the House that the House had requested.

In summary, it is not the chair's wish to try in any way to prevent a free-flowing exchange during question period as Members endeavour to carry out their responsibilities, but I will try to keep it as flexible as possible so that question period does not get bogged down with lengthy questions or lengthy answers, so that all Members can participate fully in question period without placing an impediment on their fundamental right of freedom of speech. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health, who is also the Minister of Finance. In my Member's statement today, I referred to the concerns of dental therapists regarding pay rate classifications. My question to the Minister, is this government reviewing the pay rate classifications of dental therapists in the Northwest Territories?

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of Nwt Dental Therapists
Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of NWT Dental Therapists
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 162

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, Mr. Ballantyne asked a question about the public health nurses and it concerned the 1988 transfer as well. We are looking at that situation, and I know the other problem occurred at the same time. Yes, we are looking at both of the problems. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of Nwt Dental Therapists
Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of NWT Dental Therapists
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 162

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of Nwt Dental Therapists
Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of NWT Dental Therapists
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 162

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My supplementary question is, is it this government's position that these reviews, if there are adjustments required, would be retroactive to the date of the health transfer, April 19, 1988?

Supplementary To Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of Nwt Dental Therapists
Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of NWT Dental Therapists
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 162

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of Nwt Dental Therapists
Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of NWT Dental Therapists
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 162

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, as I said yesterday, all the jobs in the Northwest Territories government have been under review for some time. We anticipate in June or July getting that finished. These issues are being dealt with in that package. Although I am taking notice and have agreed to report to the House with regard to Mr. Ballantyne's question as soon as possible. I'm not able to say at this time if there would be any retroactivity if there were any changes made to the pay rates. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of Nwt Dental Therapists
Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of NWT Dental Therapists
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 162

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of Nwt Dental Therapists
Question 105-12(5): Review Of Pay Classification Of NWT Dental Therapists
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 162

Fred Koe Inuvik

The Minister has referred to a review of the public health nurses. Would the Minister also confirm that he would investigate the issue regarding dental therapists to us in the time frame that he mentioned, June or July of this year.