This is page numbers 399 - 427 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 community.

Topics

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 408

The Speaker

I believe you might be right.

---Laughter

Currently, I have a motion on the floor under item 17, second reading of bills. Therefore, I would ask Mr. Pollard to withdraw your motion and then I will go back to item 15.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

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The Speaker

I also need consent of your seconder, Mr. Pollard. Thank you.

---Withdrawn

Item 15, motions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with my motion, the appointment of a Member to the Advisory Committee on Social Housing.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

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The Speaker

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to address his motion. Are there any nays?

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

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An Hon. Member

Nay.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

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The Speaker

I hear a nay. I am sorry, unanimous consent is denied. Item 17, second reading of bills. The honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe that Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94, be read for the second time. Madam Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1994. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

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The Speaker

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

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An Hon. Member

Question.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 17: Second Reading Of Bills

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The Speaker

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 13, has had second reading and accordingly stands referred to committee of the whole. Item 17, second reading of bills. Item 18, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95; Committee Report 2-12(5), Review of the 1994-95 Main Estimates; Minister's Statement 5-12(5), Session Business; Tabled Document 1-12(5), Towards an NWT Mineral Strategy; Tabled Document 2-12(5), Building and Learning Strategy; Tabled Document 11-12(5), First Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of the NWT for the Year 1992-93; and, Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94, with Mr. Lewis in the chair.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

I will call the committee to order. On Friday, the committee was about to deal with the estimates of the Department of Education. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I recommend that the committee continue with consideration of Bill 1 and Committee Report 2-12(5). If the committee agrees, then I would propose to make a motion regarding what we do specifically with those two documents.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Is it the wish of Members to continue with Bill 1 and Committee Report 2-12(5)?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Motion To Defer Department Of Education, Culture And Employment, Carried

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Mr. Chairman, I move that we defer further consideration of the budget of Education, Culture and Employment, and move on to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Your motion is in order, Mr. Dent. To the motion.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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An Hon. Member

Question.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs

Introductory Remarks

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The department continues to deliver on its long standing mandate to fund or directly provide operating assistance programs to municipal governments and communities for municipal programs and services. Although the limited fiscal resources available to our government continue to pose a major challenge, we believe that the present level of O and M support to municipal governments and communities is enabling them to meet the needs of their community residents for good, basic and diverse municipal services.

For the 1994-95 fiscal year, O and M estimates of $64.553 million are proposed. This is a modest increase of 3.3 per cent over the 1993-94 main estimates. There are no person year increases proposed for the department for 1994-95. The 1993-94 levels of 147.8 permanent and 6.6 casual person years are to be maintained. The department is continuing to carefully examine ways of better utilizing its human and financial resources to safeguard, as much as possible, for community-oriented programs rather than on overhead costs.

For this year, the department's budgetary increases are proposed for the following major areas: hamlet transfer payments which constitute a major component of the department's O and M funding. This funding is provided directly through contribution to hamlets and charter communities, and accounts for about 49 per cent of all departmental O and M grants and contributions and about 38 per cent of the department's entire O and M estimates.

Support from this government to these non-tax-based municipalities remains crucial. Additional funding of $684,000 is proposed to meet increased O and M costs of new municipal infrastructure and for inflationary cost increases.

Our government continues to emphasize the vital role of good community recreation programs in strengthening community well-being and offering positive focuses for the youth of the north. Additional funding of $400,000 is proposed to provide communities with base funding support under the recreation leadership salary subsidy program, which enables community government to hire qualified recreation leaders and recreation facility maintainers. These key community personnel are catalysts for strong, well-planned and efficient community recreation programs. The program also provides nearly 90 person years of employment in the Northwest Territories.

An additional $142,000 is proposed in order to meet forced growth requirements for maintenance of community recreational facilities, under the recreational facilities operating subsidy and the municipal operating assistance policy.

Under the grants in lieu of property taxes policy, the Government of the Northwest Territories pays grants in lieu to the city of Yellowknife, and to towns and villages for GNWT-owned properties eligible under this policy.

An additional $152,000 in forced growth is requested for municipal equalization transfer payments to tax-based municipalities. Additional funding of $112,000 is being proposed due to an increase in the number of dwelling units against which the municipal equalization formula is calculated, as well as an inflationary increase.

I wish to point out that municipal O and M funding for the city of Yellowknife is provided under the GNWT city block funding agreement, which commences its second year on April 1, 1994. Under this three year agreement, the level of GNWT funding for the city's municipal capital and O and M programs is set at $4.100 million annually. For support to settlements, additional funding of $253,000 is requested to meet operating costs for new infrastructure in smaller communities.

Your committee has previously expressed concerns about the level of funding support for settlements or other small communities with developing forms of local government. I want to assure this committee that the department is making progress in developing settlement capital and operating assistance policies, and I expect to submit them to Cabinet for consideration this winter. Mr. Chairman, I believe that the proposed O and M estimates for Municipal and Community Affairs provide a budget with broad scope to address the basic needs of municipal governments and community governments on a comprehensive and equitable basis. I now look forward to answering the committee's questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Thanks very much, Mr. Arngna'naaq. Before we go to questions and dealing with the report of the Standing Committee on Finance, I request to take a short break. The meeting is recessed.

---SHORT BREAK

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

I would like to call the committee back to order. Before the recess we had received some opening comments from the Minister. Does the Standing Committee on Finance have a report to make. Mr. Zoe.

Standing Committee on Finance Comments

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Finance, with regard to the Municipal and Community Affairs, is generally impressed with the progress of the department. The overall impression is one of competence and ability, and we look forward to seeing the department continue to meet the needs of the Northwest Territories' municipalities as well as it has.

While we recognize that the Minister of this department is new to Cabinet, we encourage him to manage proactively and to take a lead role in guiding the department's actions.

Property Taxation

Mr. Chairman, there are number of issues related to property taxation that the department should consider. These issues -- payment of property taxes by status native people, low taxation rates in the general taxation area and incentives to home ownership -- are addressed in recommendation 18 which is recorded under the Department of Finance. The committee recommends that this department work with the departments of Education and Finance in developing a plan to resolve outstanding issues in this area.

The Iqaluit Situation

Mr. Chairman, the committee is concerned about the events leading up to the dissolution of the Iqaluit municipal council. That dissolution, and the appointment of an outside administrator, took Members by surprise. While we appreciate the Cabinet felt it had valid reasons for taking the action it did, we believe that such surprises are to be avoided. There should be clear policies and processes in place that would allow municipalities and other concerned parties to know what to expect.

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, the committee made the following recommendation.

Recommendation 26

The committee recommends that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs review its policies, processes and legislation regarding dissolution of municipal councils and amend them as necessary to establish a clear and understandable process. Further, that the department respond to the committee with the amendments by August 1, 1994.

Community Development

Mr. Chairman, the committee noted that department has, over the last few years, been allocating capital resources to communities that were in need of basic municipal infrastructure. While these efforts are commendable, they do not fully address the overall needs of these small developing communities. These communities need support to strengthen themselves. They require assistance in the administration of the municipality and the infrastructure which is being developed.

Therefore, the standing committee made the following recommendation.

Recommendation 27

The committee recommends that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs identify community development in smaller communities as a priority and develop a plan which spells out how the department will address this priority. This plan should be available to the committee prior to its review of the 1995-96 capital estimates.

Training

Mr. Chairman, in last year's Standing Committee on Finance report, the committee recommended that the department "improve its community development activities, (and) develop a more relevant management training program for municipal councils and staff". The department has responded with descriptions of the programs they are developing. However, Mr. Chairman, the committee would like to see more details about the training programs. Committee Members also suggest that the department seriously consider ensuring that the resources available through Arctic College are being used appropriately, rather than relying too much on southern institutions.

Sport And Recreation

The members of the committee expressed support and appreciation for the efforts the department makes in organizing athletes for the biennial Arctic Winter Games. Athletic competition is an important way for the youth of the north to strengthen themselves and learn about others, and the games and other competitions should continue to be encouraged and supported.

During the committee's review, Mr. Chairman, it was noted that some small communities anticipated having difficulty hosting regional trials, territorial trials, aboriginal games or the Arctic Winter Games themselves. We suggest that the department encourage smaller communities to group together and bid for aboriginal games and Arctic Winter Games, where feasible, and that the department also encourage smaller communities to bid for regional and territorial trials. As well, committee Members urge the department to consider providing more substantial financial support for host communities when the games are held in the Northwest Territories.

The committee is aware that the department has supported participation in the indigenous games on a case-by-case basis. Members would like to see a process developed, similar to that used for the Arctic Winter Games, to ensure equal opportunities are available for participation in the indigenous games.

Fire Prevention And Education

Mr. Chairman, committee Members identified fire prevention and education as an area in which this department could cooperate with the office of the fire marshal in the Department of Safety and Public Services. The committee will recommend that this department assist Safety and Public Services in examining the feasibility of creating positions for community fire chiefs to lead communities in this important area.

Mr. Chairman, that basically concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Finance pertaining to Municipal and Community Affairs. Before we do that, I would like to move a couple of motions, particularly, motion 26 and 27.

Committee Motion 16-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 26, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

February 27th, 1994

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Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Mr. Chairman, I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs review its policies, processes and legislation regarding dissolution of municipal councils and amend them as necessary to establish a clear and understandable process. Further, that the department respond to the Standing Committee on Finance with the amendments by August 1, 1994.