This is page numbers 135 - 148 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 7th 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 decision.

Further Return To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would not be able to give the Member an actual date at this time, but the department will look at entering into a reciprocal agreement. Of course it is dealing with another government; I can only speak for our side of it. We will look at trying to get this underway as soon as possible. We know it is a concern now and we will start looking at it. We have had a very good working relationship with the Government of Alberta, so I am sure once we have made contact with them that this should flow fairly well. I will get back to the Member as to the possible timing concerns that might arise. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In actual fact, when you look at the issue well it is dealing with two jurisdictions. The issue of the NWT insisting that its own residents buy their licence back is basically a territorial issue and not so much one that requires any kind of input or agreement from the Government of Alberta. If the Minister in fact accepts that premise, could I ask him to commit to in fact trying to expedite the resolution of this issue based on the fact that it really is a territorial issue at this point? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Roland

Further Return To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is not merely a territorial issue. Right now as the systems exist, those that travel into Alberta to write the test, they are writing a test for the Alberta system. When they come back into the NWT they have to buy theirs back once they have qualified for it. So indeed it will take an agreement with the Alberta government and we will initiate it because it is a problem coming from our end of it. As I stated earlier, I will get back to the Member to see what we can do and how soon we can remedy this problem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Question 42-13(7): Motor Vehicle Operator Licencing
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Steen.

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to my honourable colleague from Inuvik, Mr. Roland, the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, my question is in relation to what I said in my Member's statement that Tuktoyaktuk is looking forward to holding their Beluga Jamboree event on the weekend of April 9th. Along with that event they expect many people from the Delta to attend the jamboree. These people normally use the ice road for transportation purposes and my question is therefore related to that particular ice road's conditions.

Mr. Speaker, at this time of the year the Department of Transportation normally works towards shutting down ice road operations and there always seems to be a question as to whether to plow the road or not to plow the road as the last few days come. I would like the Minister's assurance that there will be some consideration given to the fact that Tuktoyaktuk will be holding the jamboree event on the weekend of April 9th. I would like some consideration by the department as to whether they will plow that particular road at that time or not. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Transportation. Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 43-13(7): Plowing The Inuvik To Tuktoyaktuk Ice Road
Question 43-13(7): Plowing The Inuvik To Tuktoyaktuk Ice Road
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can inform the Member, yes, the department will do what it can to ensure that the road stays open in a safe condition. One of the concerns though, is that it is very close to the closure period. It has always been done in an area where that time of year the sun is out a lot and the conditions become quite treacherous, very slippery, and again as well, overflow starts to be a concern. The Department will ensure that all that can be done of keeping the road in a safe operating condition will be done, that does not preclude mother nature taking control and changing conditions for us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 43-13(7): Plowing The Inuvik To Tuktoyaktuk Ice Road
Question 43-13(7): Plowing The Inuvik To Tuktoyaktuk Ice Road
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

I would like to recognize in the gallery, Ms. Hilda Camirand. I bought some tickets from her for Caribou Carnival. Welcome to the Assembly.

--Applause

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My mouth may be full of marbles this morning, I just spent three hours in the dentist's chair, so if I am not that coherent please bear with me for those I am asking questions of. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier under the issue of the pay equity for the excluded employees, those who are not within the bargaining system of the union. The other day I raised the issue in the House, would the employees that are not part of the bargaining unit be eligible for pay equity and the answer was yes, but there were certain conditions on that. I understand that only those who are still employed with the government, and not those not employed, and the Minister of Finance and FMBS was going to look into that.

My concern, Mr. Speaker, is that we have a deadline of March 31st to be able to address this issue for those employees, both inside and outside. To hone in on two areas, if I may, the one that concerns a number of employees are librarians who have been classified in a classification code along with wildlife officers and the wildlife officers are male-dominated. The condition is that unless it is a female-dominated classification, it will not apply. I wonder if the Premier would consent to looking into this in the next day or two with his Cabinet colleagues so this issue could be addressed. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Premier.

Return To Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have to take the question here and run it by the Minister responsible for it and it is kind of detailed for me to reply to you, however, we will have to get some clarification and get back to the Member on that.

Return To Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is what I would like the Premier to do, is to take it up with the Minister responsible and to ensure that this issue is addressed to the satisfaction of Cabinet, but also that those people who are concerned about this issue get a reply before March 31st, and hopefully some satisfaction. That relates to my second question in that area, Mr. Speaker, my supplementary, pardon me, would be in relationship to the employees who are on income support. Again, pay equity is the issue. Employees who are on income support, will the government look at allowing the $300 income support issue to be exempt from being counted as income. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, not being familiar with the details of this whole issue, I am going to have to take the question as notice.

Further Return To Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Question 44-13(7): Pay Equity For Excluded Employees
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo. The Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation recently provided Members of the Legislative Assembly with statistics on the number of clients by region who have received assistance under the Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program. It is interesting to note, Mr. Speaker, that housing sales under the program have surpassed $45 million as of March 31st, but due to high levels of interest the Minister has extended the program to June 30th. My question to the Minister is, have there been any reports to the Housing Corporation of situations where there has been abuse of this program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Return To Question 45-13(7): Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program
Question 45-13(7): Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I told the House a few days ago, this is a highly successful program that is very popular, especially here in the western Arctic. The Member is correct that it has generated many millions of dollars of economic activity. The Housing Corporation has a screening process during the application period to try to weed out those that might want to abuse the program, but I am pleased to tell Members that there are virtually no reports of abuse; there have been a couple of cases where individuals may have wanted to buy homes to sell in very quick turnaround, but again we are very watchful for that. If the Member is interested, I would be more than pleased to provide further information in writing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 45-13(7): Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program
Question 45-13(7): Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Supplementary To Question 45-13(7): Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program
Question 45-13(7): Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that. I appreciate that the Housing Corporation is being vigilant for potential abuse of the program. The Minister also advised that, in continuing in the program, there is the opportunity for residents of the territories to take advantage and also have new homes fall under that program. My question to the Minister is, with adding new homes to the program, does it still meet the criteria of the original intent of how the program was founded? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 45-13(7): Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program
Question 45-13(7): Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This program was designed to assist individuals in obtaining a down payment to purchase existing homes and that is still the criteria. We have had requests to expand the program to include the start-up or the building of new homes, but I have advised those that have made the requests in the Housing Corporation that it would be a matter for the new Minister of Housing and the Cabinet to decide. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 45-13(7): Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program
Question 45-13(7): Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Morin.