Thank you, Madam Chair. In 1995-96, we expended approximately $12.1 million. In this fiscal year, we are estimating roughly $9.8 million in our budget. So the reduction, in terms of what we had available as a department for water/sewer subsidy in the past fiscal year and what we will have available this fiscal year, is roughly $3.3 million less than last fiscal year.
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 643
Christensen
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Madam Chair. Now that we know it is all into one lump now, the outcome of it is in a community where you have both piped and trucked water services, is the reduction the same as it would be in a community that was strictly piped. Thank you.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Christensen
Thank you, Madam Chair. What the department has attempted to do is look at each system in terms of efficient operation, regardless of whether it is trucked services or piped services. If it is piped services, we have looked at it in terms of efficient piped services. The trucked services has been looked at in terms of efficiency. We have come to an assessment on that basis. There is no bias in the review we have done to prejudice one type of service versus another. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Vince Steen Nunakput
Madam Chair, in the hamlet communities, I believe there are two subsidized rates; one is residential and one is commercial. I wonder if the Minister could tell us how much subsidy the commercial sector receives from the government in one year.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Christensen
Thank you, Madam Chair. We don't have that level of analysis with us here, but that information could be provided.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Vince Steen Nunakput
Madam Chair, we have a figure in the budget for water/sewer subsidy program, $8.808 million. Can the Minister give us an idea of how much of that figure would be applicable to the commercial sector?
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Christensen
Thank you, Madam Chair. If we were to offer an estimate, it would be a guess on our part. I would have to ask if I could provide that breakdown later. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 643
Christensen
As a very rough estimate, Madam Chair, roughly in the order of 20 to 25 per cent of the subsidy would be for commercial subsidy. The remainder would be residential. 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
Madam Chair, can the Minister tell me if the Hudson Bay Company is considered a commercial unit? We are subsidizing the Hudson Bay Company.
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. Yes, the Hudson Bay Company would be a commercial customer eligible for the subsidy. 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 Minister suggested that the subsidy applicable to water/sewage is applied to all communities. Part of the overall plan is to encourage communities to better handle their funding and to conserve consumption if possible. Madam Chair, does this subsidy program apply to all communities in the Northwest Territories?
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
Manitok Thompson Aivilik
Madam Chair, yes, it does. Thank you.