This is page numbers 1341 - 1373 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 chairman.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1354

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1354

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have the business incentive policy before Cabinet and, hopefully, it will address all the loopholes that exist in the older policy. I'm hoping and feel quite confident that we'll be able to table that in this session. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Question 624-12(7): Residency Requirements For Qualifying Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1354

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have listened with interest to the points Mr. Patterson has been making. Mr. Speaker, I have tried a number of times to relate to the Minister of DPW that there are unfair practices that are taking place because of the business incentive policy. I take it the Minister is trying to fix it. The Minister stated that if the Member knows of any practices that seem unfair to long-term northerners, he should relate them. I have stated a number of times to the Minister that there are, in my interpretation, non-residents of the Northwest Territories who are considered residents of the Northwest Territories when they apply the BIP.

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be open to making the business incentive policy apply the same as the voters' list? I understand that, to vote in the Northwest Territories, and to be considered a Northwest Territories resident, you have to be here a year in order to vote. Also, the voting requirements for local governments require that you be there for a certain time. Would the Minister be open to changing the policy so that northern residents have to be here a year before they are considered under the business incentive policy, and that to be considered a local business person, you have to be eligible to vote in municipal elections? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1354

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That makes sense to me, and it seems to be a straightforward way to address the issue. I will attempt to do that. I am not going to change the document on the business incentive policy before Cabinet because it's on the agenda already, but when it comes into the House, that's a recommendation that Members can make, and hopefully, the business community will make it as well. It's not too late to change that document, after it goes through consultation, so we'll look at that seriously. That's a good idea. Thank you.

Return To Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1354

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Supplementary To Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1354

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Mr. Speaker, we are running out of time in this Legislative Assembly. As Members know, this is the last session. Would the Minister be able to table the document, after it goes through Cabinet, before this weekend? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1354

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1354

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I understand the Member is asking for the document to be tabled before tomorrow. I don't think so. Hopefully, we can get it done before this session ends. That's what I am attempting to do. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Question 625-12(7): Stricter Residency Requirements Under Bip
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1354

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for FMBS a question. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon, the Premier announced that there will be an investigation carried out by labour relations with regard to the positions of the assistant manager of air operations and an air attack officer. Would the Minister be willing to expand the investigation to include the manager of air operation's position and to determine whether or not the method used for lay-off notices was in accordance with the policies and procedures of this government regarding lay-offs? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 626-12(7): Adherence To Policies Re Lay-off Of GNWT Employees
Question 626-12(7): Adherence To Policies Re Lay-off Of GNWT Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1354

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 626-12(7): Adherence To Policies Re Lay-off Of GNWT Employees
Question 626-12(7): Adherence To Policies Re Lay-off Of GNWT Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1355

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation a question. Mr. Speaker, regarding the new rules with regard to public housing for seniors, as we know as of April 1st, seniors don't pay any rent. However, the Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes seniors from the age of 60. There are civil servants who may not be retired, who exceed the age of 60 years, who have fairly good jobs, and who may want to sell their homes. They might be encouraged to go into public units because of the free rent for seniors. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he is reviewing the criteria for seniors for public unit free rent, to ensure that this type of situation is avoided. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1355

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's one of the questions I have posed to the Housing Corporation and we're looking at the issue of giving seniors free units. They assured me at that time that seniors with high incomes or who want to sell their houses, because of the way the policy is and the core need income threshold, they would make themselves ineligible for public housing. Public housing is for low-income people, so low-income people come first. So far, in the Northwest Territories, there is a waiting list in every community for social housing and that waiting list is full of low-income people. The process, itself, will weed out high-income people. Thank you.

Return To Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1355

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1355

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you. On the same note, with regard to seniors, Mr. Speaker, there are seniors who own their own homes and who are still paying mortgages, I believe, through the NWT Housing Corporation R and R program. They are not in free housing because they have this mortgage liability. I'd like to ask the Minister whether or not he can review this category of seniors to try to alleviate this financial burden on them. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1355

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1355

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm well aware of the rural and remote program and the hardships it places on seniors who have been paying their mortgages faithfully for many years. For those who have been doing that, we are reviewing their cases. I believe there is a case in Fort Smith, one in Providence and one in Fort McPherson that have been written off. We're trying to do the rest as quickly as we can, but we have to work through CMHC to do it. I want to get those done as soon as possible. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Question 627-12(7): Criteria For Seniors For Rent-free Housing Units
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1355

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Are there any further oral questions? Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, on April 10th, the Minister accompanied me to Fort Smith for a meeting with the town council with regard to the issue of water and sewer policy and, in conjunction with that, the issue of the town boundary. The town boundary goes about 20 miles out of the community, and has been a concern to the town council; they are trying to get the town boundary downsized. With the support of the Metis, the band and the chamber of commerce, the community did ask the Minister whether he would reconsider attempting to downsize the town boundary. I believe the Minister has been working diligently with his department in trying to attempt to come to some type of solution. Would the Minister indicate whether or not a solution has been found, and whether a decision has been made with respect to the boundary issue? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Ng.