Thank you. Mr. Steen.
Debates of May 24th, 1996
This is page numbers 619 - 646 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 communities.
Topics
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Vince Steen Nunakput
Madam Chair, could the Minister tell me what the subsidized cost of water in Wrigley is?
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Christensen
Thank you, Madam Chair. The subsidy, based on efficient costs, we estimate to be $96,000.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Vince Steen Nunakput
Madam Chair, in a community like Tuktoyaktuk where we have a water/sewage by-law, there is a subsidized rate and a commercial rate. I want to know what the subsidized rate for commercial and residential is in Wrigley.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Christensen
Thank you, Madam Chair. In Wrigley, I believe it is a situation where the department has not yet implemented the rates under the water/sewer subsidy program because of a long-standing issue with the community over the relocation of the community. There is some feeling locally, as I understand, that there was an obligation to deliver water there at no charge. At this point, that issue has not been resolved locally with the community of Wrigley. That is an exceptional circumstance. Otherwise, communities would have been charged the rate, at the beginning of this fiscal year of .27 cents per litre for their residential water consumption. Now with the new water/sewer subsidy program, communities with the block funding transfer are able to set their own rates schedules and come up with their own way of setting rates in their community. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the suggestion that all communities would have a lower subsidy allowance per community is the point of this questioning. If they don't have a by-law in place at this time, lowering the water/sewer subsidy to that community isn't going to affect that community, but it will definitely affect other communities in the NWT. To make it fair to each and every community in the Northwest Territories, this government has to take the policy to assure that all these communities bear the cost in some form for the services, including the subsidy. That was my point. I know for certain that community doesn't pay anything for water at this point in time. I know communities in my region have to pay the cost.
My other question is with regard to how we take into consideration growth of a community, if we are going to have a set rate for water and sewer. Are we going to have a growth allowance in that subsidy formula?
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Christensen
Thank you, Madam Chair. There will be adjustments from one year to the next within the allocations to communities, as communities are able to become more efficient in the delivery of the service. The department's overall budget for water/sewer subsidy is not forecast to grow over the three-year period. We are anticipating that, by the end of the 1998-99 fiscal year, if there aren't forced growth increases to our water/sewer subsidy budget, there will be impacts on communities if we aren't able to provide additional subsidy; it will directly affect the affordability of service to residents. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chair. I think I am running out of time here. I would just like to point out that that would be a concern in my community. If we produce more houses, then there will be more water and sewage consumption. Therefore, without a growth factor involved in the formula, we would have to reduce water and sewer delivery in other places in order to service those houses. That would be a concern.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Steen. It is 2:00 and it is time to adjourn. I had one more speaker on the list, but I will rise and report progress. Thank you, Madam Minister, and witnesses.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 644
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
I will call the House back to order. Item 20, report of Committee of the Whole.
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
May 24th, 1996
Page 645
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 11 and would like to report progress with one motion being adopted. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Page 645
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Seconded by Mr. Roland. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Page 645
Some Hon. Members
Question.
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Page 645
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Item 21, third reading of bills. I would like to remind the Members that they are having the Kids on the Block show after this is over. I would like to encourage the Members to attend. Mr. Clerk, item 22, orders of the day.
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Page 645
Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton
Mr. Speaker, there will be a meeting of the Western Caucus at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. Meetings for Monday, Mr. Speaker, at 9:00 a.m., of the Standing Committee on Government Operations; at 10:30, of the Standing Committee on Resource Management and Development; at 11:30, of the Ordinary Members' Caucus; at 12:00, of the Standing Committee on Government Operations.
Orders of the day for Monday, May 27, 1996:
1 . Prayer
2. Ministers' Statements
3. Members' Statements
4. Returns to Oral Questions
5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
6. Oral Questions
7. Written Questions
8. Returns to Written Questions
9. Replies to Opening Address
10. Petitions
11. Reports of Standing and Special Committees
12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
13. Tabling of Documents
14. Notices of Motion
15. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills
16. Motions
- Motion 11-13(3), Appointment Date of Languages Commissioner
17. First Reading of Bills
- Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act
- Bill 17, Business Corporations Act
18. Second Reading of Bills
- Bill 14, Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 3
19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
- Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act
- Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Education Act, S.N.W.T., 1995, c.28
- Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act
- Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
- Bill 10, Budget Measures Implementation Act, 1996-97
- Bill 11, Appropriation Act, 1996-97
- Bill 12, Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2
- Bill 13, Loan Authorization Act, 1996-97
- Committee Report 1-13(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 1996-97 Main Estimates
- Committee Report 2-13(3), Standing Committee on Infrastructure Report on the Review of the 1996-97 Main Estimates
- Committee Report 3-13(3), Standing Committee on Resource Management and Development Report on the Review of the 1996-97 Main Estimates
- Committee Report 4-13(3), Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the 1996-97 Main Estimates
- Tabled Document 1-13(3), Report of the Commission on MLA Compensation
20. Report of Committee of the Whole
21. Third Reading of Bills
22. Orders of the Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Page 646
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Monday, May 27, 1996, at 1:30 p.m.