Debates of May 15th, 1996

This is page numbers 363 - 407 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 3rd 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 Absent From The House
Status Of Women Council Of The Northwest Territories
Consensus Government
Mackenzie River System
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Final Report On Affirmative Action Review
Rejection Of Social Assistance Applications
Review Of Rents Charged In NWT Elders' Facilities
Inclusion Of Summer Students In Collective Agreement
City Of Yellowknife Operational Evaluation
Nwtpc Plans In Case Of Low-water Levels
Review Of Rents Charged In Elders' Facilities
Status Of Water/sewer Subsidy Policy
Privatization Of NWT Power
elimination Of French Translator/interpreter Position In Iqaluit
Department Position On Chiropractic Services
Meeting With Federal Finance Minister Re Division Expenses
Shortage Of Office Space For Arctic Bay Hamlet Staff
Employment For Mining Course Graduates
Status Of Nwtta Bargaining Process
Return To Written Question 4-13(3): Lack Of Availability Of Aviation Fuel In The Nunavut Area
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Removal And Recovery Of Consumer Price Index Increase To Members' Allowances And Expenses
Bill 13: Loan Authorization Act, 1996-97
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

I have an observation and a caution. From my two communities and through talking to some other people, there seems to be a general consensus that it is happening too quick. Just because we are in this mode where we are trying to empower the communities and we are offering them the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities, just because a community says I want it, it shouldn't necessarily be the be all and end all. They have to be prepared and they have to be properly trained and ready to take on the additional responsibility. If not, we are just setting them up to fail. I think in the long term, we are better off to do it in a more gradual basis. That still gives the communities the opportunity to take on the additional responsibilities and take control of their own affairs in a

safer, healthier and more constructive manner for them. Thank you.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Minister, do you want to respond to the general comments?

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

I'll just take that as advice of somebody who knows the business.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Okay, thank you. Mr. Henry, general comments.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a quick comment and also a short question. As the same Minister is responsible for Public Works, the point I was trying to make earlier was this type of a document -- black and white and nicely laid out -- is, I think, very sufficient. That was the point I was trying to make about the publications in Public Works. Maybe we can get away from the colour until we get some excess funds to contribute to that.

I was just looking at the home ownership forgiveness loans programs and the downpayment assistance programs. What criteria is in place to evaluate who falls under this program?

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Nelson.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Nelson

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Any of our home ownership programs, with the exception of the downpayment assistance, require individuals or families to be within what we call a coordinated income threshold. In other words, have incomes of at least the level that they could support a mortgage, with some assistance if they're in the assisted programs, up to the maximum amount at which they no longer would receive assistance from the corporation.

With respect to the downpayment assistance, we again use the upper strata of core need income thresholds to determine which applicants would be capable of maintaining their own home and mortgage and all the costs that go with home ownership, with an amount of equity that the corporation would provide as far as the downpayment assistance was concerned.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Henry.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

What types of dollars are we looking at here? What's the scale? It probably depends on the community. But approximately what are these grants to families or individuals for the downpayment assistance program?

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Nelson.

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Nelson

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My recollection is that at the low end, they were in the neighbourhood of about $7,000, the highest one would be in the neighbourhood of $50,000, based on 25 per cent of the value of the house.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you very much. General comments. Mr. Roland.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, as I said in my address to the budget, I'm concerned about

fairness and how it happens, so I have questions later that will go in that area. But when it comes to the general reductions to LHOs, was there a percentage of reductions overall, or was there a sliding scale in some cases? We heard earlier on in another statement about the cutting down of programs without proper funding and training. There may be cases as such but, at the same time, there are cases of just poor management and that's costing this government a lot of money. We're going to have to address that at the same time. We can't always say everybody was unprepared and unable to deal with the tasks that were at hand. So I think when we're looking at things, we're going to have to take a serious look at both sides. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. That was just a point. Right, Mr. Roland?

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Yes.

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The Chair John Ningark

Mr. Steen, general comments.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have questions with regard to the home ownership assistance program. I'm wondering what is the suggested ceiling on this program now where people can access a mortgage from the Housing Corporation, assuming the banks won't allow for a mortgage in that community. What's the ceiling for that type of program?

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Nelson.

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Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Nelson

I think I can answer that, Mr. Chairman. If you're talking about what is the value of the house or what is the value of the assistance; I guess if it's the value of the house, it's the cost that the corporation incurs for three of the models of housing we provide in our programs, by community, based on the community costs. If it's the value of the mortgage, it's based on the core need income thresholds by community and the capacity of the individual to pay a mortgage based on the cost of the house, and there's an assessment of that.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Steen.

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Mr. Chairman, I'm referring to the income from the applicant. I've been told that there's a ceiling of somewhere in the range of $66,000. If you make more than that, then you're not eligible for the loan or the program. Is that correct?

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Nelson.

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Nelson

Mr. Chairman, that's correct in terms of the eligibility for the program. I will just read through a couple of the top ends of our core need income thresholds by community. If we pick Arctic Bay, for example, the salary limitation of family income is $86,500 for the home ownership programs. Anything above that, then the corporation would not be providing assistance in the way of funding. However, we do still provide assistance in the way of providing advice and guidance, and will take potential clients to the banks and assist them in obtaining bank financing where that's feasible, as well. As far as direct

assistance from the corporation, it would end in Arctic Bay where the family income exceeds $86,500.

Committee Motion 15-13(3): To Suspend Application Of The Business Incentive Policy
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Steen.

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Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Mr. Chairman, I'm also aware of another program where it's suggested that seniors over 55 years of age are entitled to X number of dollars under the senior citizens' assistance program. I wonder if this program is only available to single seniors, or is it available to all seniors.