Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Debates of Feb. 10th, 1997
Topics
Return To Question 285-13(4): Rural And Remote Housing Initiative
Question 285-13(4): Rural And Remote Housing Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 504
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Supplementary To Question 285-13(4): Rural And Remote Housing Initiative
Question 285-13(4): Rural And Remote Housing Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 504
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister indicate whether they would be prepared to consider full forgiveness and the impact that would have if it was applied to the 39 people?
Supplementary To Question 285-13(4): Rural And Remote Housing Initiative
Question 285-13(4): Rural And Remote Housing Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 504
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Arlooktoo.
Further Return To Question 285-13(4): Rural And Remote Housing Initiative
Question 285-13(4): Rural And Remote Housing Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 504
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Mr. Speaker, there are a couple of things to consider. One is the fairness of the treatment of these clients compared to those that are in new home ownership programs. The other is, because any changes to this type of financing would mean that money would have to come from the Housing Corporation, if the deal was to be sweetened. One of things that is happening is that the Housing Corporation is presently negotiating with the CMHC to transfer the entire housing portfolio from the federal government to the GNWT and I have instructed our negotiators and our officials to ensure that the file of the R and R clients are part of the negotiating package and that we ensure that they are taken care of.
Further Return To Question 285-13(4): Rural And Remote Housing Initiative
Question 285-13(4): Rural And Remote Housing Initiative
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 504
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Question period is over. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Miltenberger.
Committee Report 5-13(4): Report On Changes To The Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Item 11: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees
Page 504
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize for the confusion. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that my colleagues from across the floor are following the good intentions of your comments and direction earlier in the session. However, we will bear with it.
Mr. Speaker, on October 9th, 1996, in response to Members' concerns, the Legislative Assembly passed a motion referring issues of changes to the seniors' fuel subsidy to the Standing Committee on Social Programs. The standing committee believes that the Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment has been given clear political direction to keep the seniors' fuel subsidy in some form.
As we noted in an October report to the Minister, there is a clear consensus among the Ordinary Members and agreement from the N.W.T. Seniors' Advisory Council, that this program should remain in place. When we approved the change to the fuel subsidy as part of the 1996/97 budget, it was with the understanding that the change would address only those high-income seniors who are getting the subsidy. The actual implementation went far beyond what we thought we were approving. The committee addressed the issue with the Minister with no resolution.
On October 18th, 1996, we gave an interim report, Committee Report 12-13(3) in the House identifying the need to retain the subsidy in the short term. In that report we also identified possible options for funding the program. We again tried to address this issue during the review of the draft main estimates in December. The Minister continued to indicate that he was unable to find the funding necessary to continue the program, but would consider the options put forward by the committee.
As a result of our discussions, we offered a number of potential sources for some or all of the funding required to support this program. There is a social envelope working group looking at the array of programs and subsidies available to seniors. This group may recommend changes to the seniors' fuel subsidy or replacement of the subsidy with a different option. However, there is no indication at this point of the time frame for completion of this comprehensive review of seniors' programs and subsidies.
It is not appropriate to eliminate the fuel subsidy until the standing committee and Members of the Assembly have had an opportunity to review and approve other possible options. We had hoped the Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment would be willing to work co-operatively with the standing committee to ensure that seniors were able to access some form of fuel subsidy. The Standing Committee on Social Programs strongly believes that the Minister could have identified the $250,000 necessary for this program within his $218 million budget.
Given the lack of positive response from the Minister to date, the standing committee would support the introduction of a formal motion directing the Minister to maintain the seniors' fuel subsidy until such time as the Assembly directs otherwise.
-- Applause.
Mr. Speaker, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, and I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik, that the report be received by the Legislative Assembly and adopted. Thank you.
Committee Report 5-13(4): Report On Changes To The Seniors' Fuel Subsidy
Item 11: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees
Page 505
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your motion is in order. To the motion. Question is being called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried. Reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Mr. Erasmus.
Motion 11-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program
Item 14: Notices Of Motion
February 9th, 1997
Page 505
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, February 12th, 1997, I will move the following motion.
Now, therefore, I move, seconded by the Member for Natilikmiot, that the Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment, be urged to continue the Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program with the following changes:
Increasing the single income threshold to at least exceed the statistics Canada poverty level for a single person, indexed to Yellowknife's cost of living. Indexing qualifying income so that the cost of living across the Northwest Territories, using Yellowknife as a base, and including seniors who rent private housing in the eligibility criteria.
Further, that the funding necessary for this program should come from instituting a rent policy for seniors living in public housing.
Further, that the revised Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program remain in place until the recommendations contained in the report of the comprehensive review of all programs and benefits to seniors and elders is reviewed by the Standing Committee on Social Programs and the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.
-- Applause.
Motion 11-13(4): Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program
Item 14: Notices Of Motion
Page 505
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Bills 8, Committee Report 2-13(4), Committee Report 3-13(4) and Tabled Document 20-13(4), with Mr. Steen in the chair.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 505
The Chair Vince Steen
I would like to call the committee to order. In committee of the whole today, we have Bill 8, Appropriation Act 1997-98 for consideration; Committee Report 02-13(4), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on 1997-98 Main Estimates; Committee Report 03-13(4), Standing Committee on Infrastructure Report on 1997-98 Main Estimates and Tabled Document 20-13(4), Report of the Joint Working Group on the Business Incentive Policy.
I would like some directions from the committee as to how to proceed. Mr. Ootes.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 505
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
I would recommend that we consider Bill 8, Committee Report 02-13(4) and Committee Report 03-13(4) concurrently and then continue with Aboriginal Affairs followed by the Department of Finance, and Public Works and Services, in that order.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 505
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 505
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 505
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 505
The Chair John Ningark
I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to have witnesses present?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 505
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Yes, I do.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 505
The Chair John Ningark
Does the committee agree?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 505
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 505
The Chair John Ningark
The committee has agreed to have witnesses present. Mr. Antoine, would you like to introduce your witness?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 505
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon to all the Members. I have with me Mr. Peter
Bannon. He is the director of policy and coordination for the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 506
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Antoine and good afternoon, Mr. Bannon. I understand we are actually on activity summaries, Aboriginal Affairs, page 2-46. Total operations and maintenance, $2,377,000. Mr. Erasmus.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 506
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As most people know, many of my members belong to a Metis local that does not belong to the Metis Nation and they are not provided with any core funding that this government provides to the Metis locals. What I would like to know, does a local have to belong to the Metis Nation to receive core funding?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 506
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 506
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, right now the Metis Nation receives core funding at the national office and from there they distribute their own internal funding to the different locals. My answer to the honourable Member is that yes, with the present arrangement, the Metis locals have to belong to the Metis Nation before they receive the core funding. We have been approached by the Metis local here in Yellowknife, that is independent and we did give them a grant aside from what went to the Metis Nation this past year. The ministry is reviewing the grants and contributions to aboriginal organizations policy. We are ready to proceed to consult with the affected organizations with proposals for different types of discussions at this point in time.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 506
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. We are on page 2-46, Aboriginal Affairs. Mr. Erasmus.