This is page numbers 429 - 460 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

Supplementary To Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 438

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I remind the Minister that he represents all communities as Minister of MACA. I'm speaking to him as Minister of MACA and he should wear that hat when he's answering oral questions. Madam Speaker, the Minister is being quite evasive. I will ask the Minister then something more specific. If the Minister can't think of an alternative, perhaps I could help him out with an alternative. Rather than not putting this program to its original level, he could look at cutting three PYs by attrition. The choice will be three PYs or giving a rebate to hundreds of home owners throughout the territories from coast to coast to coast.

---Laughter

Supplementary To Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 438

The Speaker

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Further Return To Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 438

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think I understand where the Minister is coming from.

---Laughter

But if I'm not correct, he could correct me, I'm sure. If we were to cut three positions and save $350,000, I would like to see the three positions transferred to a smaller community which would require them, where communities have high unemployment, if that were to be the case. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 438

The Speaker

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 438

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Now, I can see the Minister is going to do a number of things. He is going to give half his budget to Education and Housing. He wants to give another part of his budget to smaller communities. He has a very ambitious task ahead of him. What I'll ask is -- and I'll ask one more time -- will the Minister, as he's reviewing his budget in the coming year, listen to the advice of the Standing Committee on Finance this year and the Standing Committee on Finance last year and review whether or not this program does indeed have the beneficial impact that I claim it does and give it due and fair consideration? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Supplementary To Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 438

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Further Return To Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 438

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Madam Speaker, I have indicated my position. In answer to the questions that the honourable Member has raised, I will give it consideration. But, with the information I have before me, I don't know whether such a decision would be positive. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Question 239-12(5): Reinstatement Of Home Owners' Property Tax Rebate
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 438

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Finance about a meeting he attended, I believe, with the Premier, of the First Ministers just before Christmas. I understand at that meeting, according to the Prime Minister, there were agreements reached on two critical areas, a national strategy on tax reform and a national strategy on deficit reduction. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, will the Northwest Territories be part of these national strategies that the Prime Minister described following the meeting? Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 438

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I wasn't at the First Ministers' Conference. It may have been perceived that I was there, but I wasn't there. I should say, though, that because the Premier sits at the table with the rest of the provincial Premiers, the Prime Minister and the government leader of the Yukon, when they make agreements around that table, they do it as equals. Because of that reason, we will be participating in the two initiatives that Mr. Patterson has raised, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 438

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 439

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Madam Speaker, I wonder if the Minister of Finance, since these both are finance matters, could give this House some indication what will be emerging as a result of what I understand, was an agreement in principle reached at the First Ministers conference. What can we expect might change as these initiatives are pursued?

Supplementary To Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 439

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 439

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, with regard to the national deficit reduction program, I think what the federal government is looking for, through Paul Martin, is closer ties with provinces and territories, a greater understanding of the difficulties in the different parts of Canada, and I think, through consultation, through cooperating with each other, there is a hope that we can deal with the whole of the national debt which includes not only the federal government's debt but also the provincial debt, as well. So, I think we are already working towards that through Finance Ministers' meetings where we discuss, back and forth, different aspects of financing across the country, the economy, et cetera.

With regard to the national tax reform initiative, the same sort of thing will apply, although I can see that this is going to be a much more detailed issue simply because we almost get into the area of overlap and duplication which the Honourable Minister Mass? is handling at the present time. So, I think the national tax reform initiative is probably going to be more difficult to overcome than agreeing on the fact that we are in debt and we need to do something about it.

As these two initiatives move along, Madam Speaker, I will be glad to update the House. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Question 240-12(5): GNWT Participation In National Strategies On Tax Reform And Deficit Reduction
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 439

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Item 6, written questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a written question to the Minister of Personnel. Would the Minister responsible for the Department of Personnel please provide the following information to this House:

1. A list of public service positions which are presently vacant in the Baffin region and which have been vacant for more than three months; and,

2. A list of those positions now vacant for more than three months which have been unfilled primarily due to the unavailability of staff housing.

Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 6, written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions. Item 8, replies to opening address. Item 9, petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 439

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, under this item on the order paper, I reported to the House that certain bills had been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and were ready for committee of the whole. Our rules, Madam Speaker, require that there be two sitting days pass before the bills reported can be considered in committee of the whole. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to dispense with rule 70(5) and have Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Charter Communities Act; Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Partnership Act; Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act; and Bill 7, Personal Property Security Act, moved into committee of the whole for today.

Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 11: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 439

The Speaker

Thank you. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan, is requesting unanimous consent to waive rule 70-5 to permit Bills 2, 5, 6 and 7 moved into committee of the whole for today. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Unanimous consent has been given, therefore, Bills 2, 5, 6 and 7 are ordered into committee of the whole for today. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 12, tabling of documents. Item 13, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I give notice that, on Thursday, March 3, 1994, I will move the following motion:

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Natilikmiot, that the terms of reference for the special joint committee be amended to allow for ten alternate Members, comprised of four ordinary Members and six Ministers;

And further that, notwithstanding rule 88(2), that the following Members be appointed to the Special Joint Committee on Division:

as permanent Members: Mr. Allooloo, Member for Amittuq; Mr. Patterson, Member for Iqaluit; Mr. Ng, Member for Kitikmeot; Mr. Antoine, Member for Nahendeh; Mr. Ballantyne, Member for Yellowknife North; Mr. Koe, Member for Inuvik; Hon. John Pollard, Member for Hay River; Hon. John Todd, Member for Keewatin Central; and,

as alternate Members: Mr. Arvaluk, Member for Aivilik; Mr. Pudluk, Member for High Arctic; Mr. Gargan, Member for Deh Cho; Mr. Zoe, Member for North Slave; Hon. Silas Arngna'naaq, Member for Kivallivik; Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Member for Nunakput; Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, Member for Sahtu; Hon. Rebecca Mike, Member for Baffin Central; Hon. Don Morin, Member for Tu Nedhe; and, Hon. Richard Nerysoo, Member for Mackenzie Delta.

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 13, notices of motions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Motion 18-12(5): Extended Adjournment
Item 13: Notices Of Motions

Page 440

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I give notice that, on Thursday, March 3, 1994, I will move the following motion:

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River, that when this House adjourns on Friday, March 4, 1994, it shall be adjourned until Monday, March 14, 1994;

And further, that any time prior to March 14, 1994, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Mahsi.

Motion 18-12(5): Extended Adjournment
Item 13: Notices Of Motions

Page 440

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 13, notices of motions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I give notice that, on Thursday, March 3, 1994, I will move the following motion:

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for High Arctic, that this Legislative Assembly requests the Government of Canada to take immediate action to prevent an embargo of Canadian wild furs in Europe in 1994;

And further, that the Minister of Renewable Resources request the federal Minister of the Environment to place this issue on the agenda of the G7 Environment Ministers Meeting to be held in Italy in March 1994;

And furthermore, that the Minister of Renewable Resources also request the federal Minister of the Environment to meet with European Environment Ministers on the European Fur Import Regulation;

And furthermore, that a delegation comprised of the Minister of Renewable Resources, representative Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Members of Parliament for Nunatsiaq and the Western Arctic accompany the federal Minister of the Environment;

And furthermore, that this motion be conveyed to the Prime Minister of Canada, all Members of the Canadian Parliament, all Members of the European Parliament and the Ministers of the Environment for the European Union.