This is page numbers 821 - 851 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th 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 health.

Topics

Further Return To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, some time ago I asked the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism whether or not the department has considered the tax holiday scheme similar to the one undertaken by Newfoundland. I've now found out that Newfoundland has a related initiative. The government has appointed a committee to conduct a comprehensive review of all provincial legislation with the aim of scrutinizing permitting and licensing provisions in order to eliminate or reduce, wherever possible, unnecessary and redundant fees or charges in order to stimulate economic growth.

I understand that the Newfoundland government has already eliminated, totally, 171 fees that they have charged individuals and businesses in the past and they expect by this summer to eliminate a further 200 to 300. Mr. Speaker, has our Minister of Finance considered this sort of initiative in order to stimulate economic growth in the territories?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, several years ago we did look at giving tax holidays and making a better environment for business and so forth. But the truth of the matter is, Mr. Speaker, we did not find at that time that we were going to attract more businesses to the Northwest Territories because there were less taxes or fees to be paid here, with the exception that there were a number of companies prepared to act as investors of funds. I believe we have one in Yellowknife already. A lot of paper travels back and forth and electronic transfer of funds. There are some gains to be made for those companies participating and, of course, there are some advantages in jobs and so forth.

But we found those to be fairly small and the economic advantage to us to be almost unnoticeable compared to if there was to be some large-scale mining activity, the fur industry was to come back, or if we were able to create some manufacturing jobs. At that particular point in time, we did not pursue giving greater benefits in tax areas or lesser licensing fees to companies in order to stimulate economic development. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 835

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 835

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business, in reaction to the territorial budget and fiscal plan, one of the points they say needs to be immediately addressed by the government is a thorough review process of the regulatory environment and degree of paper burden imposed on small business in the territories. In fact, the implication in the CFIB statement is that the paper burden is holding back the territorial economy from growth that it might otherwise experience. In light of that and in light of what Newfoundland has done, and since it has been some time since the Minister has looked at this issue, would the Minister commit to re-examining whether or not there might be reason to eliminate some of the fees and charges of this government.

Supplementary To Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 835

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, I will admit on the area of paperwork, by the time you get done filling in forms for the federal government, for the territorial government, for municipal government and so on, it is onerous upon small businesses. I will commit right now to have a look to see if there are some ways to get rid of some of that paperwork.

Mr. Speaker, I should remind Members though that every time we pass a policy or a rule in this Legislative Assembly that affects employers, then we are adding to that paper load and we are adding to that reporting structure. Sometimes it is the governments who are creating the problems for the businesses that are out there and have to fill in those forms. I notice that the federal government is trying to consolidate some of the forms for small business. I have no problems in looking at that aspect. I will commit to the Member that I will sit down with Mr. Todd and go over the issue again of giving incentives to businesses in the Northwest Territories to see if we could stimulate economic activity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Question 408-12(7): Elimination Of Unnecessary Fees Or Charges To Assist Businesses
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 835

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Pudluk.

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is directed to the Minister of MACA. It is with regard to the Member's statement I made earlier regarding the Elections Act in small communities. All communities are governed under the Elections Act. Have you reviewed your Elections Act, as it affects small communities that have small populations?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Ng.

Return To Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is planning on undertaking a comprehensive review of all municipal legislation which affects municipalities. That would include the Local Authorities Elections Act. At that time, I would expect that we would address the issues that have been brought forward by municipalities, by the NWT Association of Municipalities and various other groups; particularly, as the Member has alluded to, how it relates to the eligibility of individuals in communities to sit for election to municipal councils. Thank you.

Return To Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 836

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Pudluk.

Supplementary To Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 836

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for reviewing this because it is one of the major concerns. When are you going to undertake this exercise?

Supplementary To Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 836

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Ng.

Further Return To Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 836

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently, the department is drafting the terms of reference under which the review process will be undertaken. I can expect that that will be done within a month and the consultation process would probably start some time later this summer or fall.

Further Return To Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 836

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Further Return To Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 836

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week, I received a phone call from an individual and I can't remember whether he was in Hay River or Enterprise. Mr. Speaker, the individual was somewhat difficult to understand, but I understood part of his comments. He advised me that he was taking the Premier to the Conflict of Interest Commissioner. Mr. Speaker, I noticed, Mr. Fournier, the Chief Conflict of Interest Commissioner, in the Assembly today. I was thinking of possibly connecting the phone call with seeing Mr. Fournier. I would like to ask the Premier, are the actions of the Premier of this government being investigated by the Chief Conflict of Interest Commissioner? Thank you.

Further Return To Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Question 409-12(7): Review Of Local Authorities Elections Act Pertaining To Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 836

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Can I ask the Member to perhaps rephrase her question? The question I heard is whether or not she is being investigated because she is the Premier. Or, are you asking a question because she is responsible for one of the portfolios in which she is being investigated under? Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look at the position of the Premier, Mr. Speaker, as Premier responsible for the overall government. Is the Premier of this government being investigated by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Return To Question 410-12(7): Investigation Of Premier By Conflict Of Interest Commissioner
Question 410-12(7): Investigation Of Premier By Conflict Of Interest Commissioner
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 836

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, the Conflict of Interest Commission has a case before it which is alleging a conflict of interest with myself, as Premier. Thank you.

Return To Question 410-12(7): Investigation Of Premier By Conflict Of Interest Commissioner
Question 410-12(7): Investigation Of Premier By Conflict Of Interest Commissioner
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 836

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Housing Corporation. I understand that housing authorities are able to collect damage deposits from tenants. Under what authority is the ability to collect damage deposits given to the housing authorities? Is it through the act, the policy or through the contribution agreement?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Housing, Mr. Morin.