Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.
Debates of March 2nd, 1995
Topics
Further Return To Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Supplementary To Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, the Minister says that 30 days notice will be given. Mr. Speaker, there isn't time to give 30 days notice for rent increases effective April 1st. Is the Minister saying that the rent increases will have to take effect after April 1st, in order to give the tenants the 30 days notice required under our law? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It should be done, it better be done, and I will check into it to make sure it is done. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.
Supplementary To Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Will the Minister report back to this House as to whether 30 days notice has been given to tenants in my constituency for rent increases that are due to take effect April 1, 1995? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not only will I check into your constituency, I will check into all the others as well and report back on Monday, because I won't be here tomorrow. But, I will report back on Monday. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Question 218-12(7): Implementation Of New Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, somewhere around a year ago, there was a big hoopla about the tobacco tax. The federal government had dropped its taxes, the provinces dropped their taxes and the territories kept its taxes on cigarettes high. There were all kinds of questions that came out of that about whether that was going to continue for very long. Over the past few months, I've heard bits and pieces about what is happening. I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Finance dealing with the tobacco tax. The first question I want to ask is if this tobacco tax applies to all tobacco products: cigars, pipe tobacco, loose tobacco, snuff, the works.
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.
Return To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon. Yes, it does, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Return To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.
Supplementary To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Because of the discrepancies in the prices -- out east they are a little cheaper than in the west and they are more expensive here in the north -- there was speculation that smuggling would increase. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not this has resulted. Has there been an increase in the amount of tobacco smuggled into the territories?
Supplementary To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Pollard.
Further Return To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Speaker, I can comment on two things. We have knowledge of four cases of illegal tobacco being in the possession of people in the Northwest Territories and those are being investigated by the RCMP or are before the courts. So, there is some smuggling going on. But, I think the majority of the people in the Northwest Territories are honest, Mr. Speaker, because from May to November 1993 -- and this is just for cigarettes -- 72,449,270 individual cigarettes were sold in the Northwest Territories. From May to November in 1994 -- and I'm giving you volumes because there was a tax increase and dollars would not mean much -- there were 72,444,624 cigarettes sold in the Northwest Territories.
So, we are not seeing that much of a decline in cigarette consumption in the Northwest Territories. I believe there is a small amount of smuggling going on, but in the main, people are being honest and purchasing their tobacco legally, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 412
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.
Supplementary To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 413
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was surprised to hear that there has only been a small amount of seizures or crimes detected. I was going to ask if there have been any prosecutions as a result of these apprehensions.
Supplementary To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 413
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Pollard.
Further Return To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 413
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Speaker, I anticipate all of the four cases will be prosecuted, are being prosecuted or have been prosecuted. Certainly, our position is that we encourage the RCMP to carry these cases to court. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 413
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Whitford.
Supplementary To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 413
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I heard somewhere along the way that a fairly large seizure had taken place. I would like to ask the Minister, what would happen to the product if it were seized and charges were laid? What would happen to all of these cigarettes?
Supplementary To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 413
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Pollard.
Further Return To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 413
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Speaker, I don't really know what happens with the tobacco that is seized. I believe the court has some input on that. It depends who is laying the charges and whether they are laid under a territorial act or federal provision. I will get that information and pass it on to the Member about what happens to the seizures in the different scenarios, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Question 219-12(7): Tobacco Tax
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 413
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Dent.