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.

Topics

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker and honourable Members. Madam Speaker, except for the natives who sold Manhattan Island for $26 in glass beads, our people are some of the smartest, most resourceful and environmentally conscious people in the world. We have adapted to the most inhospitable climate and conditions in the world. I do not blame my ancestors for wanting to trade with the Europeans for things that would make their lives easier in this harsh land. If the white man wanted ten muskrat pelts for a tin pot, it seemed like a good deal at the time.

Madam Speaker, my message to this House, and to the media, is to please not give too much credence to the position of the Native Animal Brotherhood of Guelph, Ontario, an organization that I think has lost touch with most of their identity and does not speak for a majority of aboriginal people in Canada. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Kivallivik, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on February 14, 1994, regarding community contribution policy for recreation facilities.

The policy with regard to municipal capital infrastructure has evolved over the years in order to reflect the current needs of communities in the Northwest Territories.

The most recent change in policy regarding community contributions to recreation facilities has come as a result of Cabinet's approval of the municipal capital assistance policy, which will take effect April 1, 1994.

The municipal capital assistance policy is a comprehensive policy that applies to all communities in the Northwest Territories for all Municipal and Community Affairs capital programs. MCAP, as it is referred to, ensures a consistent, equitable and fair distribution of all capital programs of the department.

Community contributions under MCAP are based on an ability-to-pay criteria. As a result, all communities will benefit. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Oral Question 36-12(5): Amalgamation Of Rcmp "g" Division With Alberta
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

February 17th, 1994

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is in response to a question asked by Mr. Whitford on February 9 regarding the federal plans for the RCMP "G" division.

We've checked with the department and what we've ascertained is that there are no plans afoot, presently, with the RCMP to amalgamate "G" division with "K" division in Alberta. The RCMP are, however, looking at whether there are any economies of scale to be achieved by having some functions for both divisions served from either Yellowknife or Edmonton. This is what is being looked at, not amalgamation. The RCMP, like other government organizations, is looking for ways to save money without reducing service. Across the country, administration costs are higher in the smaller divisions. It is in this light that the RCMP administration is examining its organizational structures. This examination, as I understand, is in a preliminary stage. It is not apparent that true economies of scale would be achieved in combining any administrative services for Alberta and the Northwest Territories, mainly because of the great distances involved.

There are also cultural differences between Alberta and the NWT and, therefore, if there is to be a move toward shared services for some functions, we will be encouraging the RCMP to explore the possibility of sharing with "M" division, which serves the Yukon. Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin Central, Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Madam Speaker, I have three returns to oral questions. The first one was asked by Mr. Patterson on February 16, 1994, regarding the location of additional housing units.

The Financial Management Board approved 16 new staff housing units to meet the 1994-95 staff housing shortfall.

The 16 units approved by FMB are for the following communities: Pangnirtung, one unit; Igloolik, two units; Cape Dorset, two units; Broughton Island, one unit; Clyde River, two units; Pond Inlet, one unit; Sanikiluaq, one unit; Arviat, one unit; Coral Harbour, one unit; Pelly Bay, one unit; Fort Good Hope, one unit; Rae Lakes, one unit; and, Snare Lake, one unit.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Madam Speaker, I have another return asked by Mr. Gargan on February 15, 1994, regarding communities considered as off-highway.

Madam Speaker, on February 15, 1994, Mr. Gargan, the Member for Deh Cho, asked me for a list of the communities that are considered off the highway system for the purposes of government benefits. This question arose from the earlier discussion about the settlement allowances being provided for the staff of the alcohol and drug treatment centres. When Mr. Gargan originally asked me why the staff of the Hay River Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centre were not eligible to receive the settlement allowances, I incorrectly indicated that it was because Hay River was on the highway system and settlement allowance was not payable on the highway system.

Rather than providing the list Mr. Gargan requested, I would like to correct the record and provide more accurate information. I decided to provide settlement allowances to treatment centre staff equivalent to those provided to government employees. These settlement allowances are outlined in the collective agreement between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Union of Northern Workers. The allowances are intended to compensate staff for the higher cost of living in communities outside of Yellowknife and are not related to whether or not the community is on or off the highway system.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

My third return to oral question asked by Mr. Dent on February 17, 1994, regarding Social Services' response to family law review recommendations.

Yesterday, Mr. Dent asked when the discussion paper from Social Services on the family law review would be available for distribution. The paper will be mailed this weekend to a wide distribution list including Members of the Legislative Assembly, hamlet and band councils, aboriginal organizations, the Native Women's Association and Pauktuutit.

This paper was prepared in consultation with the Department of Justice and is intended to provide potential solutions to the problems identified in the family law review.

I and my colleague, the Minister of Justice, realize the need for a timely response to this report and for an early start on the legislative changes that will be required.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Those are my responses.

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. The Payroll Tax Act is now implemented and taxes are being collected. I have a question for the Minister of Finance, based on the statement made in the budget address dated February 14. Can the Minister clarify what is meant by the statement made in the budget address, and I quote, "The government remains convinced that all individuals who are employed in the Northwest Territories must share in the tax burden. This tax is the most effective way we have to ensure that such sharing takes place." Mahsi.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Item 5: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. What that means is that people who earn a living in the Northwest Territories and pay taxes elsewhere in Canada and other jurisdictions were not contributing to the Northwest Territories, prior to the payroll tax being introduced. So what I'm saying

is that we remain convinced that those individuals who earn a living here and file their income taxes elsewhere in Canada, should share in the tax burden of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Fred Koe Inuvik

I thank the Minister for that response but I don't read those things into that statement. My supplementary question to the Minister is, have the objectives of the payroll tax now changed whereby all residents of the Northwest Territories who are employed or who work are expected to share in the tax burden through the payroll tax equally with those of out-of-province employees?

Supplementary To Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Item 5: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. People who reside in the Northwest Territories and file taxes here, who earn a pay cheque, are entitled to a tax credit that only people who file in the Northwest Territories can get. That means that most of the people in the Northwest Territories who are employed here contribute to the payroll tax and they are entitled to the tax credit. I say most of them because there are a number of people who earn investment income, people who draw dividends from companies, people who are shareholders in companies and have some form of receiving funds from those companies, who do not pay the payroll tax. That has been a matter of concern with the Standing Committee on Finance and it has been raised in this House, Madam Speaker. We are aware of the fact and I have tried numerous ways to get all of the people in the payroll tax and I haven't come up with a way to capture those other people yet. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. The Minister mentioned the payroll tax credit for northern residents. If most people are like myself, I usually file on the last possible day, which is near the end of March. Can the Minister, in the near future, table in this House the forms that residents will have to use in claiming this tax credit?

Supplementary To Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Item 5: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, those forms are provided to people in their tax package that comes from Revenue Canada. I will table a facsimile of that form. As I said earlier, we will be putting ads in papers and advising people across the Northwest Territories that they should fill in that form to get their tax credit from the Government of the Northwest Territories and they should also fill in the forms with regard to child tax credits. Yes, I will table a facsimile in this House, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Question 135-12(5): Minister's Remarks Re Payroll Tax
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Finance. It has been a day or two since I indicated that the unemployed people are numerous in the Northwest Territories and they are having difficulty getting their income tax returns done. Can the Minister of Finance indicate to me whether he has considered the concerns I addressed during my Member's statement regarding income tax returns? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 136-12(5): Assistance For Preparing Income Tax Returns
Question 136-12(5): Assistance For Preparing Income Tax Returns
Item 5: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I am more aware now of the problem raised by the Member. I am looking at the situation, but I must tell this House, that the government has no program whereby it could send accountants into communities. I am looking at the problem. We have also been in touch with the federal Department of Revenue and sent down information with regard to the difficulty people have in filling out their tax forms, the language difficulty and I have taken the liberty of sending down copies of letters that I have sent to Mr. Pudlat in his own language, to make the federal Finance Department more aware of the problem. So I am looking at it. I don't have an answer, at the present time, but I will next week, Madam Speaker. Thank you.