Agreed.
Debates of March 4th, 1997
Topics
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1093
Some Hon. Members
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Agreed. Thank you. Bill 2 is now ready for third reading. Thank you, Mr. Ng. Does the committee agree that next we will consider Bill 9, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 1996/97?
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Agreed. Thank you. I would like to thank the Minister for joining us. Would the Minister have any opening remarks?
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Madam Chair. The purpose of the Forgiveness of Debt Act, 1996/97 is to authorize the forgiveness of certain debts listed in the schedule to the Act. Pursuant to Section 25(1) of the Financial Administration Act, the forgiveness of debt or obligation to the government exceeding $1,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval. When a debt is forgiven, no further collection action shall be pursued. There are forgivenesses which are being proposed and this Act will not require a new appropriation. Allowances for downfall accounts were charged to an appropriation at the time it was determined that collection of the debts were considered unlikely. The accounts were recommended for forgiveness are the result of compromise settlements and/or are in the public interest. The cases where a compromise settlement was reached, the following factors were being considered: the possibility of future recoveries, the cost of continued legal actions and the value of the security, for example, do the personal guarantees hold a realizable worth? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time we will ask Mr. Miltenberger representing the Government Operations Committee to make the committee's comments on Bill 9.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations has considered Bill 9, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 1996/97. Bill 9 includes forgiveness of nine debts which are negotiated settlements. It is our understanding the committee has limited discretion to change any of the negotiated settlements. These debts are the ones which cause us the most concern. In a number of cases, there appeared to be inadequate analysis by the lender on the potential of the viability of the proposed business venture. In one case, the loan recipient received funds from the GNWT without ever putting in the equity they had committed to. This seems to be a fundamental breach of the loan process. We recognize these debts are a number of years old. We hope the government and, in particular, the business development fund administrators are now more carefully determining which loan applications should be approved. We look forward to the completion of the Business Credit Corporation review which should address our concerns. The items which are presented in the public interest could be reconsidered. However, the committee is supportive of the reasons of forgiveness in each of these cases. Madam Chair, the Standing Committee on Government Operations has completed its review of Bill 9 and we hope in the future we can see fewer cases of forgiveness where the loans should not have been given in the first place. Thank you.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. At this time I will ask the Minister if he would like to bring in any witnesses?
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
I do not know if they are there, but if not I will answer the questions. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to check and see if there are any witnesses. Mr. Minister, could you please introduce your witness for the record.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Madam Chair. With me on my immediate right is Mr. Lou Voytilla. I was thinking about something else and then it was on there.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you. Welcome, Mr. Voytilla. General comments. Are there any general comments on the bill? If there are no general comments, we will move to clause by clause. Bill 9 in your binders. Forgiveness of Debts Act, 1996/97, page 1, clause 1. Agreed?
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Committee Motion 46-13(4): To Amend Sub-clause 3(6) Of Bill 7: Municipal Statutes Amending Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1094
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.