Debates of April 5th, 1994
This is page numbers 993 - 1026 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
- Members Present
- Item 1: Prayer
- Minister's Statement 64-12(5): Minister Absent From The House
- Shortage Of Garbage Cans In Legislative Assembly Building
- Proposed Changes To Water And Sewage Services Subsidy Policy
- Visit Of High Commissioner Of India To Yellowknife
- Changes To Water And Sewage Subsidy Policy
- Proposed Changes To Water And Sewage Services Subsidy Policy
- Proposed Changes To Water And Sewage Subsidy Policy
- Assorted Preparation Of Northern Food
- Question 448-12(5): Consultation Process For Changes To Water And Sewer Subsidy Policy
- Question 449-12(5): Reason For Delay In Announcing Changes To Water And Sewage Services Subsidy Policy
- Question 450-12(5): Department Of Health Review
- Return To Written Question 20-12(5): Provisions Of The Mechanics Lien Act As It Pertains To Leased Land
- Written Question 24-12(5): Hiv/aids Related Expenditures For Fiscal Years 1993-94 And 1994-95
- Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Minister's Statement 62-12(5): Water And Sewage Services Subsidy PolicyTabled Document 65-12(5): Water And Sewage Services Subsidy Policy Amendments
- Committee Motion 42-12(5): To Defer Implementation Of The Amendments To The Water And Sewage Services Subsidy Policy, Carried
- Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Tobacco Tax Act
- Committee Motion 43-12(5): To Amend Clause 5 Of Bill 19, Carried
- Committee Motion 44-12(5): To Amend Amendment To Clause 5 Of Bill 19, Carried
- Committee Motion 45-12(5): To Amend Clause 6 Of Bill 19, Carried
- Minister's Statement 5-12(5): Session Business
- Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Tobacco Tax Act
- Assent To Bills
Members Present
Mr. Allooloo, Mr. Antoine, Hon. Silas Arngna'naaq, Mr. Arvaluk, Mr. Ballantyne, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Mr. Dent, Mr. Gargan, Mr. Koe, Mr. Lewis, Hon. Jeannie Marie-Jewell, Hon. Rebecca Mike, Hon. Don Morin, Hon. Richard Nerysoo, Mr. Ng, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Patterson, Hon. John Pollard, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Pudluk, Mr. Whitford, Mr. Zoe
---Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Page 993
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Good afternoon. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.
Minister's Statement 64-12(5): Minister Absent From The House
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
Page 993
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. Madam Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi is ill and will be absent from the House today. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Minister's Statement 64-12(5): Minister Absent From The House
Item 2: Ministers' Statements
Page 993
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.
Shortage Of Garbage Cans In Legislative Assembly Building
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 993
Ludy Pudluk High Arctic
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I would like to make a very simple statement. It cost $25 million to build this Legislative Assembly building. Somehow, we were tight for money and the government put in only $10 million. We had to buy chairs, telephones and a lot of equipment for this building. Also, about 200 garbage cans had to be put into this building. Instead of 200 cans, there are only 199. That is all the government can afford. Today we are short one garbage can. Since we've been here, my neighbour here hasn't had a garbage can.
---Laughter
And we have to share one garbage can. Every time he throws paper into my garbage can, he always touches my knee!
---Laughter
A lot of times, he misses the garbage can and there is a pile of papers under my desk. I went to the dump yesterday and I found a bucket.
---Laughter
So, I would like to give it to him.
---Laughter
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
---Applause
Shortage Of Garbage Cans In Legislative Assembly Building
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 993
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.
Proposed Changes To Water And Sewage Services Subsidy Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 993
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you. I would like to thank the honourable Member for the garbage can.
---Laughter
Madam Speaker, I will be speaking today on the policy change for the water and sewage services subsidy program. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs advised this House in a statement last Wednesday that the changes to the policy are a result of an issue raised by the NWT Association of Municipalities, the town of Hay River, the village of Fort Simpson and by our honourable colleague, the Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine. Specifically, the issue is the lack of water and sewage services subsidy coverage for residents in most tax-based municipalities.
The Minister has also advised this House that on February 19, 1993, the Minister of Finance in his budget address announced a plan to adjust the rates for subsidization of commercial users and hamlets. He further advised that his predecessor, the Honourable John Todd, on November 24, 1993 again advised the House that amendments had been approved, subject to a final review by FMB, which would extend coverage to all towns and villages.
The Minister has also stated that ongoing consultation by his department has taken place with municipal councils and their administration on the policy. His statement of last Wednesday suggests that municipalities and Members of this House should have expected the amendments to the water and sewage services subsidy policy as a result of these ongoing consultations and previous statements made in this House, one of them which I mentioned was made over a year ago.
Madam Speaker, I wish to point out that I and other Members of this House consider there has been insignificant, if any, consultation with our municipalities, with businesses, with the Association of Municipalities or with Members on the proposed changes to the water and sewage services policy, which will directly affect all our residents, including private home owners and other, non-commercial water users.
In fact, many of us believe the issue would not have been raised during this session by the Minister if it was not for the fact that ordinary Members raised questions on the policy changes. Madam Speaker, I and other Members will be pursuing this issue today to attempt to receive clarification on the many outstanding issues relating to the proposed amendments to the water and sewage policy. If the government has undertaken a proper consultative process, then they should be aware of the issues and concerns respecting the proposed amendments to the water and sewage services subsidy policy and should be able to respond accordingly. Mahsi cho.
---Applause
Proposed Changes To Water And Sewage Services Subsidy Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 994
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Item 3, Member's statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.
Visit Of High Commissioner Of India To Yellowknife
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 994
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, yesterday evening, my two colleagues from Yellowknife, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Dent, and I, were guests of a family in town to welcome to the Northwest Territories the High Commissioner of India in Canada, Mr. Prem K. Budhwar. We had an opportunity there to meet with some members of the Indian community of Yellowknife and to meet the High Commissioner and his wife and to welcome them to the north. A few moments ago, I also had the pleasure of touring the High Commissioner and his wife around our Legislative Assembly. I showed them as much of the building as I could.
I also had an opportunity yesterday to describe to them the uniqueness of the form of government that we have, our consensus government, and the make up of the Members and the communities that they represent. It is interesting to note -- and I'll get to the good food in a minute -- that the size of the Northwest Territories was quite impressive to the High Commissioner. I think it is roughly the same size as India and, yet, they have hundreds of millions of people whereas we have 57,000, in the summer anyway.
We also had an opportunity to sample some Indian food, curries and other very delicious dishes, as my two colleagues will attest to. It was an excellent evening and I certainly wanted to extend a welcome to the High Commissioner to the Northwest Territories. He'll be visiting other parts of our city today. Unfortunately, his tour will not be able to take him into the High Arctic at this time, but on behalf of my colleagues, I extended to him a warm welcome and an invitation to come back and see the rest of the territories when time allows. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
---Applause
Visit Of High Commissioner Of India To Yellowknife
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 994
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.
Changes To Water And Sewage Subsidy Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 994
Henry Zoe North Slave
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I, too, want to raise the issue of the water and sewer services subsidy policy that my colleague for Kitikmeot has raised this afternoon.
Madam Speaker, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs announced, last week, changes to the water and sewer subsidy policy. These changes, Madam Speaker, decrease the subsidy, in effect increasing the cost to users.
Madam Speaker, the issue of these increases was discussed by the Association of Municipalities last week, when their executive met here in Yellowknife. This topic was discussed and a number of concerns were raised. It's my understanding, Madam Speaker, the Association of Municipalities is currently canvassing all their member municipalities with regard to these policy changes to see what effect it will have on them. Some of the concerns that were raised, Madam Speaker, was the lack of consultation with affected communities and municipalities on the specific changes being proposed prior to the announcement of these amendments. Madam Speaker, general discussion of the policy is not sufficient consultation when these types of changes are being proposed. It's important to review the actual changes, and ensure all issues and concerns have been identified.
Madam Speaker, due to the timing of the proposed changes there is also concern about the impact of the new rates on municipalities, which are currently in a deficit position in their water and sewage program. I understand, Madam Speaker, there may be as many as ten municipalities in this position.
Another concern that was raised, Madam Speaker, is the budget of the municipal corporation that we have across the territories. They've already set their 1994-95 budget for this coming year. Madam Speaker, in addition to that is the concern raised with regard to the overall effect it's going to have on the users in their communities.
Madam Speaker, I'm not pleased with the lack of consideration given to municipalities by the Minister.
Changes To Water And Sewage Subsidy Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 994
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Excuse me, Mr. Zoe. Your time has lapsed for Members' statements.
Changes To Water And Sewage Subsidy Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 994
Changes To Water And Sewage Subsidy Policy
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 994
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Continue.
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