This is page numbers 821 - 852 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 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 825

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister, for your response. Can I assure my constituents who are concerned about this income tax? Will I be able to inform them that if you want to find out more about why you're paying that amount, would I be able to tell them that they have to enquire to Revenue Canada? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 825

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 825

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, I'm going from past experiences with Revenue Canada. If there's a fear in the community that they will be assessed large sums of money that they may not be able to pay at that particular time, it is not uncommon for Revenue Canada to work out some kind of payment program with people to give them some time to pay. So if there's a fear in communities that these people are going to go in there and say you owe us $15,000 and you must pay right now -- and I can't speak for the federal Minister, but I can only say that they have been reasonable in the past and I would expect them to be reasonable in the future, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I believe the Member's constituency is going to be visited by the federal tax people during the first week of April of this year. And, yes, those are the kinds of questions that they will be able to answer. They can provide information to the Member and to his constituents with regard to how much tax they should pay. I have also indicated to the federal Minister that he should be prepared to supply some information in syllabics so that people will be able to read it themselves. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 825

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral question. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Premier. It is with regard to the process of public consultation. During the Premier's pitch to become a public leader, she made several commitments with regard to consultation and she made another commitment during the time you were elected, Madam Speaker. She said that times are changing. When the government first started, it started on the basis of making decisions, but now the commitment is to consult with communities. I would like to ask the Premier whether or not that commitment was conveyed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs with regard to the government's commitment to consult?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Return To Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 825

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I assume this is a question regarding the water and sewage policy. Madam Speaker, what I have suggested to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, is that he provide you with the consultation process that did take place over a number of years on this one issue. This has been a long standing issue that has come back to Cabinet several times and has been carried over a number of years.

There's been a great deal of community consultation and this process has taken place. But, it may be that because it is an old subject, and it kept coming back, that the Members of this Legislative Assembly should be provided with the type of consultation that took place, when it took place, and how we came to this particular position. Thank you.

Return To Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 825

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Supplementary To Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm not too sure whether my question should be addressed to the Premier, but I want to ask the Premier if this particular rent increase has gone through the Public Utilities Board? When there is a rate increase, does the PUB invite public participation to determine if the increases should take place?

Supplementary To Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, these decisions are not governed under the Public Utilities Act.

Further Return To Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Supplementary To Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

So there is really nobody in existence right now then? I realize this is commercial, but there are a lot of businesses in my constituency that might be affected by this increase. Who should they go to if they don't agree with the rate increase?

Supplementary To Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, the issue is not necessarily relative to a rate increase. It is taking off some of the subsidy. It appears to be a rate increase, but it is taking away some of the subsidy that the government has provided over a number of years. I would think that if there are grave problems out there and Members want an additional briefing on exactly what the increases are going to mean, we would be prepared to do that. If there are grave problems with it out there, then I would think that the recourse would be through their MLAs and through this Legislative Assembly. That would be the proper way to go.

There were suggestions over a number of years to take away the subsidy quickly, but the new decisions have ensured that the subsidy will be phased in over a number of years. As well, after two years go by, we are suggesting that we do a review of it. It may be that once the Members have taken a look at the details of what is being proposed, they would feel much more able to judge whether those increases are fair or not fair. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Question 370-12(5): Maca Minister's Knowledge Of Government's Commitment To Consult
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I guess I will direct my question to the Premier. Madam Speaker, if this is an old, outstanding issue, as the Premier indicated earlier, then why didn't the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, through the consultation process that we've established, consult the Members prior to his department presenting the new proposal to Cabinet? Definitely, we weren't advised recently as to the initiative of the Minister of MACA. I would like to ask the Premier why haven't one of her Cabinet Ministers advised us accordingly, because we've already established that consultation process and it's an ongoing process. I would like to ask the Premier, why haven't one of her Ministers advised us accordingly? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Return To Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, just to once again restate that because the issue has been on the table to be dealt with for some time now, and I think only to be fair to the present Minister, there has been consultation. What I've suggested is that we provide you, tomorrow, with when the consultation took place and what has happened from the beginning to this date. The more important issue is that if the Members would wish, they could have a briefing at the end of today or as soon as possible to see exactly what is being proposed, and see if that is still not in keeping with good government. Thank you.

Return To Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you. Supplementary, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, if I could ask the Premier if she could request from her Cabinet Minister if she could table the details of this increase of the rates. I understand it is specifically to the commercial rates. If she can provide us the details of the current rates versus the proposed rates that are going to be implemented, I think the Minister indicated on May 1. If she can provide this to the House. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, we would be pleased to provide those details, and we'll have a statement and as much information available as the Members wish. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Question 371-12(5): Reason For Lack Of Consultation Re Rate Increases
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 826

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the honourable Minister of MACA. Madam Speaker, according to the information that we received this morning from our colleague who is in Iqaluit, from the regional perspective, the rates in municipal services -- that is water and sewer -- are going to be increasing in both the residential and commercial. The honourable Minister indicated in his response to my

colleague, in this House, that they will not be increased in residential units. Could the Minister assure the House that there will be no increase in residential units? Thank you.