Debates of May 6th, 1996
This is page numbers 199 - 230 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 nunavut.
Topics
- Members Present
- Item 1: Prayer
- Minister's Statement 33-13(3): Board Reductions And Process
- Minister's Statement 34-13(3): Western Arctic Fuel Resupply
- Minister's Statement 35-13(3): Emergency Preparedness Week
- Minister's Statement 36-13(3):recognition Of Achievements Of Northern Athletes
- Minister's Statement 37-13(3): Seniors' Independent Housing Strategy
- Super Soccer Tournament
- Need For Review Of Seniors' Supplement To Old Age Pension
- Congratulating Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum Society In Iqaluit
- Supplementary Payment To Harvesters For Wolf Pelts
- Inadequacy Of Federal Government Funding For Nunavut Infrastructure
- Community Empowerment
- Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
- Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
- Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
- Question 154-13(3): Status Of Article 24 Of Nunavut Final Agreement
- Question 155-13(3): Tabling Of All GNWT Contracts
- Question 156-13(3): Core Funding For Tl'oondih Healing Camp
- Question 157-13(3): Communities' Spending Limit For Forest Fire Management
- Question 158-13(3): GNWT Representatives On Nunavut Implementation Commission
- Question 159-13(3): Federal Funding For Nunavut Implementation
- Question 160-13(3): Status Of Training For Community Empowerment
- Question 161-13(3): Breakdown Of Incremental Funding For Nunavut
- Question 162-13(3): Education Tax Increases
- Question 163-13(3): Impact Of Nunavut Funding On GNWT Budget
- Question 164-13(3): Formula Financing In Two New Territories
- Question 165-13(3): Effect Of Block Funding On Procurement Policies
- Question 166-13(3): Departmental Emergency Procedures
- Question 167-13(3): Cabinet Committee On Nunavut
- Question 168-13(3): Post-secondary Education In Nunavut
- Item 10: Replies To Budget Address
- Item 14: Tabling Of Documents
- Motion 5-13(3): Referral Of Tabled Document 30-13(3), Report Of The Chief Electoral Officer To A Standing Committee, Carried
- Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Bill 11: Appropriation Act, 1996-97
- Item 21: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Item 23: Orders Of The Day
Community Empowerment
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 204
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mrs. Groenewegen.
Community Empowerment
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 204
Community Empowerment
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 204
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Member for Hay River is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Community Empowerment
Item 3: Members' Statements
May 6th, 1996
Page 205
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a statistical fact that 70 per cent of investment for expansion in the small business sector comes from within the established business community. I don't think we can expect this investment should confidently take place when northerners cannot see clearly how community empowerment affects them.
In the end, community empowerment is the only alternative. Not only is colonialism detrimental to the development of the people, it is no longer affordable. The expertise and knowledge is there at the community level; it needs to be developed. There will be growing pains and mistakes made. That will be the role of this central government: to keep the checks and balances in place that will create confidence as we proceed in this new direction. Thank you.
Community Empowerment
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 205
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.
Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 205
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to also, like Mr. Steen, speak about the funding that was announced for the creation of Nunavut. Let me say to start with that, in summary, the federal government is providing $150 million for the transition costs which we all know about, but $31 million of this is for the federal government.
Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 205
Some Hon. Members
Shame. Shame.
Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 205
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Right. Now, officials and representatives from the Nunavut area spent 20 plus years negotiating their agreements with the federal government to settle land claims, but also to talk about self-government for the people of Nunavut. This was achieved in concert with the federal government and it involved extensive agreements. In my mind, those agreements imply that there would be adequate funds to run the infrastructure and incremental costs of the two territories. It's disappointing that we only have $150 million -let me correct that -- $120 million to do the transition work, and there is no commitment on the part of the federal government to provide incremental funding. What was stated, and the only comment made on the future, was that funding post-1 999 will be negotiated by the federal Department of Finance.
To me, there is a fundamental issue here. The feds have arbitrarily decided a figure of $150 million -- let me correct that again -- $120 million for the transition costs. I am, of course, concerned about that fact, that there is only $120 million, but I'm more concerned about the long term. How much will be available to run two territories for incremental costs? That is a big question and we should devote our attention to that. We all have a responsibility to ensure that we have incremental costs of adequate funds when the time comes.
Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 205
An Hon. Member
Hear! Hear!
Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 205
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
I would urge my fellow MLAs from Nunavut, when they meet with Mr. Irwin at the Nunavut Leaders' Conference in Arviat -- the home of my colleague, Mr. O'Brien -- at the end of the week, to tell Mr. Irwin that there are Members upset over this and we are determined that we get adequate funds. Thank you.
--- Applause
Federal Funding Allocated For Creation Of Nunavut
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 205
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 150-13(3): Responsibility For Education Tax Increase
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Page 205
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Roland on May 3rd, with respect to the responsibility for tax increases for education.
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned last week in the House, the Financial Management Board approved a 10 per cent increase in education taxes in all tax-based municipalities except Yellowknife. In addition, the board approved an increase in general property and education tax rates of 10 per cent in the general taxation area, which consists of those areas outside tax-based municipalities.
GNWT property tax rates are set through an establishment order. Each year, they are reviewed by the Department of Finance and recommendations are made to the Minister of Finance and to the Financial Management Board. This year, the Financial Management Board decided to increase GNWT property taxes because they have not kept pace with inflation over the last 30 years. In fact, even after this change, mill rates will have only increased by 33 per cent since 1967 when property rates were instituted. During the same period, the Canadian consumer price index increased by 390 per cent.
Letters notifying tax-based municipalities of the new education mill rates will be sent out shortly. It is projected that the combination of the general property tax and education tax increases will raise $575,000 in 1996-97. The additional revenues are included in the main estimates. However, property tax revenues are projected to be only $79,000 higher than in 1995-96, because 1995-96 revenues were abnormally high. This was as a result of the effort by our government which resulted in the federal government paying about $550,000 in grants-in-lieu of taxes that were owed from previous years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 150-13(3): Responsibility For Education Tax Increase
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Page 205
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Henry.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 205
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Don Ellis in the gallery today. Don has returned to Yellowknife as the assistant deputy minister of the Department of Health and Social Services. Don, his wife and family used to live in Yellowknife, and we are glad he has returned to his senses and returned home. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--- Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 206
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Morin.
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