Could I please ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses to the table with the Minister?
Mr. Todd, for the record. would you please introduce your witnesses?
Debates of May 28th, 1996
Topics
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
John Todd
Thank you, Madam Chair. On my immediate left is Diane Buckland, legislative counsel for the legislative division of the Department of Justice of the Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife; and, on my immediate right, Mr. Nielsen, the deputy minister of Finance.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Todd. Does the committee wish to make any general comments on the bill? If there are no general comments, we will proceed with the clause-by-clause review.
Clause By Clause
Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act. Clause 1.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you. Bill 8 is now ready for third reading. Thank you, Mr. Todd. Thank you, witnesses.
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
May 28th, 1996
Page 729
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Will the committee Members please turn to Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act? I will ask the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board to make his opening remarks.
Minister's Introductory Remarks
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 729
John Todd
Thank you, Madam Chair. The year's maximum insurable remuneration, known as YMIR, is a fundamental element of workers' compensation. It is used to determine benefits payable to an injured worker, as well as the amount of payroll for which an employer will be assessed in any given year.
The YMIR is intended to balance the interest of workers and employers. It ensures that injured workers are adequately compensated and that undue burdens are not placed on the employers. The YMIR is currently set at $47,500.
When a worker becomes entitled to compensation in the NWT, he or she is paid 90 per cent of net earnings for as long as the disability continues. If a worker's net earnings exceed the YMIR, these calculations are based on $47,500.
Employers, meanwhile, are assessed according to their payroll. When a worker receives a salary greater than the YMIR, the employer is only assessed on payroll up to $47,500. Section 52 of the Workers' Compensation Act states that the board must review the YMIR each year. This review is completed according to board policy and a recommendation forwarded to my office.
The YMIR was last amended by the House in 1992. With this proposed increased, the NWT will have the fourth highest YMIR in Canada. Customarily, changes to the YMIR would become effective January 1st. However, with the consent of this House, we intend to increase the benefits to injured workers effective July 1, 1996. An increase to accessible payroll will be delayed until January 1, 1997. The proposed increase will have negligible financial impact on the 1997 assessment rates. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 730
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Todd. I believe that the Government Operations committee reviewed this bill and Mr. Erasmus will be making the comments. Mr. Erasmus.
Standing Committee On Government Operations Comments
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 730
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act. This bill increases the year's maximum insurable remuneration.
The standing committee has considered the bill and agrees that the bill is ready to be moved into Committee of the Whole for further discussion.
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 730
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 730
John Todd
I would, Madam Chair, if I may.
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 730
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you. Please proceed, Mr. Todd. Mr. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you please escort in the witnesses? Does the committee agree that the Minister bring in his witnesses?
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 730
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 730
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Mr. Todd, for the record, could you please introduce your witnesses?
HON, JOHN TODD: On my immediate right is Mr. Flynn, legal council with the legislative division of the GNWT; on my immediate left is Mr. Gilmour, chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Board. Thank you.
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 730
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Todd. Are there any general comments on the bill from the Members? General comments. Do the Members agree that we proceed clause by clause?
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 730
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
--- Agreed
Clause By Clause
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 730