Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. I'd like to thank the Minister for his return to oral question today where he states as examples that the Workers' Compensation Board and Northwest Territories Power Corporation, their excluded employees and managers would be part of the package. My question to the Minister is what method is proposed by the government to obtain any of these wage and benefits savings back to general revenue. As an example, the Workers' Compensation Board is a separate employer/employee program; how are these savings, that are proposed by the government to be implemented on April 1 st, coming back to GNWT coffers? Thank you.
Debates of March 26th, 1996
Topics
Question 61-13(3): Method To Place Wage And Benefits Savings In GNWT General Revenue Fund
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Question 61-13(3): Method To Place Wage And Benefits Savings In GNWT General Revenue Fund
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.
Return To Question 61-13(3): Method To Place Wage And Benefits Savings In GNWT General Revenue Fund
Question 61-13(3): Method To Place Wage And Benefits Savings In GNWT General Revenue Fund
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. They are not coming back to the GNWT with respect to the WCB. Thank you.
Return To Question 61-13(3): Method To Place Wage And Benefits Savings In GNWT General Revenue Fund
Question 61-13(3): Method To Place Wage And Benefits Savings In GNWT General Revenue Fund
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.
Question 62-13(3): Status Of Communities Qualifying For Settlement Allowance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. I recently received a letter from the Union of Northern Workers which indicates that several years ago Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Smith were designated as being qualified to benefit from a settlement allowance in the amount of $1,500 per year, I would like to know if this is true.
Question 62-13(3): Status Of Communities Qualifying For Settlement Allowance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.
Question 62-13(3): Status Of Communities Qualifying For Settlement Allowance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not aware of whether that took place several years ago as I wasn't in this portfolio at the time. I'm not trying to be evasive, I'm just not aware of it. I will look into it and report back to the honourable Member. Thank you.
Question 62-13(3): Status Of Communities Qualifying For Settlement Allowance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.
Question 62-13(3): Status Of Communities Qualifying For Settlement Allowance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Sorry, Mr. Speaker, I didn't hear the response because the honourable Member here coughed just at the same time.
Question 62-13(3): Status Of Communities Qualifying For Settlement Allowance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Todd.
Return To Question 62-13(3): Status Of Communities Qualifying For Settlement Allowance
Question 62-13(3): Status Of Communities Qualifying For Settlement Allowance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not aware of it because I wasn't the Finance Minister at the time. I'm not aware of whether there was or wasn't the settlement allowance of $1,500. I will look into it and get back to my honourable colleague. Thank you.
Return To Question 62-13(3): Status Of Communities Qualifying For Settlement Allowance
Question 62-13(3): Status Of Communities Qualifying For Settlement Allowance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.
Question 63-13(3): Minister's Knowledge Of Eviction Notices In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
March 25th, 1996
Page 82
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week I raised the question of eviction notices being given to long-term, dedicated employees of this government in Iqaluit. Since that time, Mr. Speaker, more questions have come up on this policy of this government. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that more leases held by this government will be dropped. My question is for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation: Is he aware of the situation in Iqaluit?
Question 63-13(3): Minister's Knowledge Of Eviction Notices In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.
Return To Question 63-13(3): Minister's Knowledge Of Eviction Notices In Iqaluit
Question 63-13(3): Minister's Knowledge Of Eviction Notices In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware of the situation in Iqaluit. If the Member is talking in particular about staff housing, that falls under the responsibility of Mr. Todd, of FMBS.
Return To Question 63-13(3): Minister's Knowledge Of Eviction Notices In Iqaluit
Question 63-13(3): Minister's Knowledge Of Eviction Notices In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.
Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the authority does rest with the Minister of Finance, if that's the case, because it is staff housing. My question now will be asked of the Minister of Finance, the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, or whoever wants to answer it over there. The local housing authority in Iqaluit, Mr. Speaker, can hardly keep up with the demand now for housing. We have a severe shortage of housing in Iqaluit. How does the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation expect to handle the flood, now, of long-term northern workers living in Iqaluit, some of them who've been there for 15 or 20 years, over the next couple of months after they've been evicted, to find housing when the local housing authority is under so much pressure to find housing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.
Return To Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 82
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If my honourable colleague is alluding to staff housing, I want to
assure him that there is a surplus of staff housing in Iqaluit and not a shortage. Thank you.
Return To Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 83
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.
Supplementary To Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 83
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like Mr. Todd to come and find those staff housing units. What I'm talking about are the private leases that I brought up in the House last week: two high-rise apartments, specifically the Ivavik, which I mentioned last week. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister, then, commit to coming to Iqaluit to address the concerns of these evicted employees? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 83
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 83
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't believe in my previous response to the Member's question, that he was specific about the fact that it was leased housing. Maybe I can address his question about lease housing. The point is that there are arrangements under way at the present time for the current leased housing to continue on a month-to-month basis until such time as we've completely evaluated our overall needs of staff housing in the community of Iqaluit. And, yes, I would only be too happy to visit the future capital of Nunavut and meet with my honourable colleague's concerned constituents. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Question 64-13(3): Concern Re Severe Housing Shortage In Iqaluit
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 83
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.
Question 65-13(3): Criteria For Use Of Community Action Fund
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 83
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services with regard to the community action fund that my colleague for Yellowknife North just made reference to. I met last Thursday evening with the board of the Metis Nation in Fort Smith and they indicated that they, as well, had a concern about the disbursement of the funds that were given to the community through the town council to disburse. My suggestion to them is that they should, in fact, sit down with the other groups in the community -- the Metis Nation, the town and the band, as the three main political groups -- and if they're not happy with the criteria, to definitely take the steps to straighten it out so that it does meet their needs for the coming year.
My question to the Minister: Has he attempted to address the concern of the Member for Yellowknife North about more direction in terms of conditions for use of these funds? I suggest that he not make it too stringent and that he allow as much latitude as possible for the community and the groups in the community to, in fact, make those decisions so that we can have both our concerns addressed -- which, I think, are the same -- and help promote the whole initiative of community wellness and community empowerment. I think this is one step along that path. Thank you.