This is page numbers 213 - 241 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 chairman.

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Supplementary To Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 220

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This particular course I'm talking about is sponsored in Coppermine, Coral Harbour and Hall Beach. Three communities in which the same course is organized and sponsored by Arctic College. Isn't it ordinarily the case that students in most Arctic College sponsored courses are automatically approved for Northwest Territories student financial assistance?

Supplementary To Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 220

The Speaker

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 220

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

No, Madam Speaker, thank you. No, not all students are automatically approved. It depends on the program itself, the manner in which that program is designed, and whether or not it is an acceptable credited program, and as such is considered to fall within the student financial assistance. There are some other financial programs that are available to students. It depends on what financial programs they are associated with.

Further Return To Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Supplementary To Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 220

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My final supplementary, will the Minister find out why there was a disagreement between Arctic College, if there are any, in Mr. Ernie Comerford's letter of rejection, and show the cause why there is particular...This case seemed to be kind of remote because most of the Arctic College sponsored ones are usually accepted by the Department of Education, naturally. Would the Minister report why this one is somewhat odd?

Supplementary To Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 220

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I will look into the matter. However, again, I want to advise the honourable Members of this House that not all programs are financed under the student financial assistance program because they don't fall within the categories of the assignments that are made. I will look into the matter for the honourable Member and advise him of the nature of the discrepancies and the differences of the program that is offered by Arctic College.

Further Return To Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Question 139-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Coral Harbour Students
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 220

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice with regard to a change of name procedure issue which was raised during the last session, and the difficulties in the legalities and the costs associated with the process. At the time, the Minister stated he would look into the matter and prepare some sort of response. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister what kind of progress he has made in that regard. Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 140-12(5): Simplifying Change Of Name Procedures
Question 140-12(5): Simplifying Change Of Name Procedures
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 220

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, yesterday I asked the department to provide me with a briefing note as to the work done to date on this request, and I haven't received it as of yet. Probably by Monday I will be sharing information with the Member since I know it's something that has been a serious request made and taken seriously, however I'm not clear on where the department is in preparing a response to it. So I will commit to providing that on Monday. Thank you.

Return To Question 140-12(5): Simplifying Change Of Name Procedures
Question 140-12(5): Simplifying Change Of Name Procedures
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 220

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a question I would like to direct for the Minister responsible for Government Services, under whose jurisdiction I believe this might fall. He can correct me, if it isn't. It's a matter concerning the eastern Arctic communities. I think my honourable colleagues are more than well aware of how expensive it is to provide fresh food into the communities, other than country food, but things that are of a necessity in the communities. Over the years, a program had been developed through Indian and Northern Affairs and Canada Post, I think it was called food for the north airstage subsidy program. I believed, and so did the Members believe, that it was designed to offset the cost to individuals for bringing in food. This program is, of course, very costly and it comes under review. I think we discussed this in the House a few years ago, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister what is the intention of this program, perhaps more, who is it there to serve?

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 221

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Food mail subsidy program is a program of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The Department of Indian Affairs has made an annual contribution of $15 million to Canada Post Corporation, since 1991. The reason for this program is to bring down the rates of mailing food to isolated northern communities. That program has been successful in reducing the costs of shipping nutritious and perishable foods, such as dairy products and vegetables, to a number of remote communities in the Northwest Territories that are only serviced by air. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 221

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 221

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In discussion with my colleagues, they certainly appreciate the value of this program, and they are concerned that if it would ever be terminated because of the high costs. Is this program, Madam Speaker, designed to assist construction companies that go into build buildings in communities? Say, this budding mining industry, exploration companies, are they part of this program as well?

Supplementary To Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 221

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 221

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My understanding is that this program is designed to service the remote communities, it's not designed to be a subsidy for mining companies or construction companies. I guess there has been some concern raised because there is a possibility that there might be a reduction in this program. So I have written a letter to the Minister of Indian Affairs on this issue, already, basically letting him know how valuable a program it is for Northwest Territories residents and encouraging him to keep it in his budget. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 221

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Am I correct to understand that the Minister has undertaken to look at the concerns that my colleagues and I are expressing concerning the misuse of this program?

Supplementary To Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 221

The Speaker

Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 221

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Member for raising this issue in the House and raising it to the public. I was unaware that mining companies or other people were trying to use this program, other than it being used for getting food into small, remote communities. I will follow up on that issue. I have followed up already on the issue that people have raised a concern of a reduction in the program, but I will follow up to see if people are trying to misuse the program. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Question 141-12(5): Food For The North Airstage Subsidy Program
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 221

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral 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 Finance. It also has to do with the payroll tax. Madam Speaker, I have in my hand today a copy of the payroll tax annual return which many businesses in the Northwest Territories will have just gotten a copy of, or recently gotten a copy of, because it required to be filed with this government by the end of February. Madam Speaker, looking at the form it's clear that the Department of Finance is probably as confused as any of the people who have to try to fill this form out. It's very interesting that, for instance, Madam Speaker, the word remuneration is used four times in the text on the form, and twice it's spelled incorrectly and twice it's spelled correctly. I would think that on a government form we could at least check the spelling before we send them out.

---Laughter

Madam Speaker, according to this form -- and here's my question for the Minister -- the employer must provide the name of each employee who worked in the NWT in the year. I would like to ask the Minister, what is the purpose of asking that question.