Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that the department's organizational charts reporting methodology be made the standard for all other government departments and agencies in future business plans and appropriate documentation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
In the Legislative Assembly on April 22nd, 1999. See this topic in context.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 293
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 293
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Henry. I will just allow the motion to be circulated. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those against? Abstentions? The motion is carried unanimously. At this time I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to call his witnesses.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 293
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 293
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 293
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 293
The Chair David Krutko
Can I ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses in? Mr. Minister, can you introduce your witnesses?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my right is Mr. Vern Christensen, Assistant Deputy Minister, and to my left is the Deputy Minister, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is more of a question than a comment. If the Minister could give the committee an update on the department's work with the various communities in regard to the Y2K problem since it was addressed in committee and Main Estimates, if there is an update on how that is coming along. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
McLeod
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The department, as indicated in our opening comments, has been working on the Y2K issue for some time. We have responsibilities through the Territorial Emergency Committee, but specifically with regard to communities we have been working very closely with the NWT Association of Municipalities and we have provided funding to cost share a position. That person has been travelling to the communities and has been working with the municipal governments to review their preparations for Y2K and also to identify the shortcomings and what they should be doing to prepare adequately for the Y2K situation. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What responsibility does the department incur to ensure that the communities do not have problems on January 1st? I know the Power Corporation is quite confident that the power will be maintained on that date, but is there any responsibility by the department for the small communities? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
McLeod
Thank you. The main area that we are focusing on is to ensure that the communities are aware of the Y2K issue. We are also making sure that they have the programming and tools so that they can check their computer systems to satisfy themselves that the equipment that they have is Y2K compliant, as well as the software that is involved. We are mainly concerned with the financial information, and so on, at the municipal government level. We also have information that we make available to them so that they can properly plan and prepare themselves for the Y2K issue. As well, with our responsibilities for Emergency Measures, emergency planning, we want to ensure that the communities, at the community level, are prepared through their Emergency Measures Plans to address any eventuality. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 294
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to see the progression of the School of Community Government as there was a motion passed in this House for more training for the community people in order that they be better prepared, I suppose not only for community people but for people in general, including people in the larger centres, so that the municipalities would be better prepared to take over. Municipalities, bands, Metis locals, whatever, would be better prepared to take over programs and services through the Community Empowerment Initiatives. I suppose, in another sense, also through the self-government negotiations. A lot of people had identified at the time that the communities needed more training and it was good to see that there was movement in this area.
I wanted to comment, however, on the comments in the Standing Committee on Resource Management and Infrastructure's report that staff should be qualified for the positions prior to their hire. I think that is a laudable goal; however, there are times when you cannot get qualified people and I think that is the problem that is being tried to address, to try to ensure that there are qualified people, and that you do not have to import other people from either the south or from the larger communities, so people can actually live in the community that they were raised in without having to move to a larger centre for work. There was another comment that this training effort may be better developed, co-ordinated and implemented through ECE and Aurora College. I do not think I can agree with that, Mr. Chairman. I can see collaborating with them but, from my experience, I think it would be better for the department to maintain the control of this and work with the college and the department and also with the aboriginal and municipal leadership, but I do not think they should just turn it over. I am saying this because I have seen what happens to some programs, sometimes courses are put together just by pulling other things from other courses and using existing staff for totally new courses which are beyond the realm of expertise of the current staff and because they are on staff, they have to be used.
I do not believe that it is a good way to go, to leave it in the hands of them. I think the department has to maintain control and work in conjunction with their partners. They have to ensure that the needs that are identified are properly addressed and that if there have to be new people brought in, then bring in new people. You cannot just use the same staff that the college has on hand now for the recreation programs or whatever. I would encourage the department to continue in their current mode and also to get the buy in from the aboriginal and municipal leadership.
The Y2K compliance, I am glad to see that we are all trying to make sure that things do not grind to a halt at the end of the year and that this department is also working to ensure that we have existing firefighting capacities that are effective, the rest of that.
The current water allocation levels, Mr. Chairman, I seem to recall seeing some statistics awhile back which indicated that the communities of Detah and N'dilo were a little less than the rest of the territories. I cannot figure out why and I was wondering if perhaps if the department might have noted that and inquired as to why they were below. They were actually below the recommended level of water usage. I see here that the deputy minister reported that the current standards for trucked water on a per capita basis in the communities exceeded standards set for Yellowknife. Does that include the community of Detah and N'dilo? Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I believe the honourable Member is referring to the School of Community Government when he is speaking towards training aspects. The department is planning to supply some training to existing municipal staff, more specifically the reason he was mentioning there where some of them have been on staff for many years, but because of the new responsibilities passed on to through the self-government process and the communities' political will to take on these responsibilities, there must be some training aspects supplied by someone for these staff in order for them to assist the communities to do their job.
I can ask the department to elaborate on that a little, but I believe that job orientation, it could be looked at as job orientation, for new staff, the training aspect would be that they familiarize themselves with the territorial political situations. It could be also to judge their abilities to supply their services to the community but it is the intent of the department to also supply and help the communities have guidelines or job descriptions for the specific different jobs. That way it would ensure that people that have the qualifications do receive some kind of recognition through diplomas or certificates that they have, in fact, completed the training aspects for the job they have been hired to do. Also, I will ask the department to respond to the Member on the water allocations to the residents in his particular communities. For that, I will ask Mr. McLeod to elaborate on what I have said here.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
McLeod
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to the water situation, I think the question is emanating from the fact that in establishing guidelines for pipe and trucked water through the Northwest Territories, the department used the trucked water services in Yellowknife as the basis, as well as the piped water. In order to establish guidelines for the Northwest Territories, we did a study of the water that was being trucked and its utilization in Yellowknife. I should point out that the Canadian standards for water consumption is 65 litres per person per day. The survey that we undertook in the area around N'dilo, we established that the utilization rate for trucked water was 87 litres per person per day. The guideline that we used in determining the water subsidy was based on 90 litres per day. Similarly, for piped water, we again used Yellowknife as the guideline and on that basis it was determined that 225 litres per day per person was the standard that we should be using in terms of the subsidies that we provided in that area. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
James Rabesca North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Minister's statement on page four and five regarding the strength in the community fire protection service by $400,000, additional funding of $300,000 for firefighting training, I was wondering what type of training he is referring to because when firefighting training comes to mind, to me I always think of forest fire training or something like that. What capacity is the Minster referring to when that kind of money is allocated for firefighting training? Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
McLeod
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The kind of training that we are looking at is specifically to train local people to become fire trainers, so it is a training-the-trainer type of training. What we are also developing is a training plant so that we can train the firefighters in the Northwest Territories to meet national standards and that they be fully qualified. Some of the areas that we are looking at is also, we are looking at live fire training facilities and the NWT fire chiefs are meeting in Hay River this week. That is one of the areas that we are looking at.
With regard to specifics, we have identified increases to what we call MOAP and SOAP, which is Municipal Operating Assistance Programs and Sub and Operating Assistance Programs where we are providing increased funding to those programs for training at the community level. Also, we are providing funding to develop a fire training plant for the Northwest Territories. As well, we are looking at some specialized training at the territorial level. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
James Rabesca North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This additional $100,000, what is it used for then if out of $400,000 you said you use $300,000 for training? The additional $100,000, where does it go to?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
McLeod
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is distributed to the communities on the same basis as the Municipal Operating Assistance Program. So, in the calculations that are made, the training is included in the core funding that is given to the municipal governments.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 295
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have some concerns about the ability for communities to continue to deliver the number of programs that we have put on to the communities through the community transfer process. I would just like to make reference to that and see what the Minister and his officials, how they may be able to address it. There are a lot of factors that are leading to pressures in communities. There is more demand for services to be done in communities, there is a demand for expansion of infrastructure and land development. There is more effort to let communities look after health education, housing and infrastructure and all of these factors,
Mr. Chairman, impact upon the community to be able to deliver services very efficiently and that raises the question, naturally any community can deliver the services providing they get the funding because they can buy the support services in whatever fashion possible.
I am wondering if the Minister can speak about what the forecast is for the next several years in regard to the communities because basic infrastructure needs need to be continued, need to be met, the servicing of those, but my understanding is that there is some concern out there about whether all of the communities can continue to provide the kind of service that is being placed upon them.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Member is correct in that the department is taking on a lot more responsibilities and duties over the past few years and we have been passing those responsibilities and duties to the communities through self-government and community empowerment and there is no doubt there is a definite workload being passed onto the department and we are trying to handle the workload within the means that we have been supplied from the government. We do know that there is definitely a growing need for more infrastructure in the communities and also there is a need, a definite need that at some point in time all this infrastructure that we have is getting outdated and is going to have to be replaced. There is a definite figure attached to it and the government is going to have to in some way meet this requirement. However, I am going to ask Mr. McLeod if he can be more specific as to what exactly these needs are that we forecast.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
McLeod
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The best way to explain it is that historically the capital budgets for the department were in the neighbourhood of about $40 - $50 million and they have been decreasing and, after division, the capital budget for the department is about $12 million on an annual basis. When you look at the needs identified at the community level and you look at the infrastructure most of which was constructed some time ago, the needs of the communities are estimated at about $20 million a year and our capital budgets are set at about $12 million. So every year we have to keep pushing projects back and we refer to it as a wave and every time the capital budgets are reduced, we keep pushing the needs further back and the needs keep increasing on an annual basis. So that is the nature of the problem that we are addressing and as the needs increase, and as the resources decrease, we have to find more creative ways of trying to address the problems and, we are starting to look at alternative financing and delivery systems to see if there are alternatives to fund a lot of these kinds of projects. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wonder if the Minister can tell us if they have the department looking at an inventory of infrastructure projected along with forecast of lifespan so that the department or we may be able to analyze it and may be able to priorize essential needs?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
The Chair Seamus Henry
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. McLeod.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
McLeod
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What we have been doing is looking at the standards and criteria developed by the department and the Minister referred to municipal finance review and so we are using that initiative to help us try to determine the priorities when it comes to capital. For example, we have reviewed the standards and criteria and we are trying to determine what is a basic requirement and what is nice to have and also how to compare the needs between communities. For example, if a community has an arena and another community does not have a water or sewer system, how do you determine the priorities? That is what we are using the municipal finance review to look at the standards and criteria we have developed for capital programs, and also, to look at what are the basic requirements that every community should have in terms of capital facilities. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. General comments. What is the wish of the Committee? Detail? We are dealing with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Page 4-9, Corporate affairs. Budget summary, Corporate affairs, operations and maintenance, $1.934 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
The Chair David Krutko
Emergency services, page 4-13, operations and maintenance, $1.119 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
The Chair David Krutko
Emergency services, grants and contributions. Total contributions, $575,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
The Chair David Krutko
Emergency services, details of capital, other equipment, headquarters region total, headquarters region, $50,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 296
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
The Chair David Krutko
Page 4-19, Community governance and financial services, operations and maintenance, $863,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
The Chair David Krutko
Page 4-23, Community operations, operations and maintenance, $9.889 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
The Chair David Krutko
Page 4-25, Community operations, details of capital, contributions, headquarters region, total headquarters region, $1.305 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
The Chair David Krutko
Fort Smith region. Total Fort Smith region, $4.064 million. Mrs. Groenewegen:
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question on the section here on the Fort Smith region. I know it has been explained before but one more time, just for the record. I was curious why under block funding Fort Smith at $1.5 million, Fort Smith at $550,000 and Hay River block funding at a lowly $308,000.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
McLeod
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The way the block funding agreements were negotiated, the needs were identified on a twenty-year basis and the capital requirements for a period of time and I think, in this case, it was initially for a five year period. The funding that was available over that period of time was identified, then it was costed out over an annual basis over the five year period. It was based on the projected capital projects which were going to be done in that period of time and so if you look at, you mentioned Fort Smith and Fort Simpson and Hay River. Well, in that five year period Fort Smith had a recreational centre that was constructed so their rates were higher. Fort Simpson had some projects that included a sewage recovery system that entered into the equation and Hay River had projects which averaged out to about $300,000 a year in terms of the block funding agreement, so when we negotiate these contracts, we look at the needs over an extended period of time and then we negotiate it.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Christensen
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The period of the block funding agreement was for a three year fiscal period and these agreements have just been extended for one year so they will be expiring at the end of this coming fiscal year. In the coming year we are going to be renegotiating these agreements and the basis for renewal will be one of things which we will be studying right now with the major municipalities to see if there is a new way to, or a different or simpler way, of calculating the amounts that each community should receive. But as Mr. McLeod had indicated, the previous agreement had been calculated based on what had been the forecast capital requirements over the three year period for each of the communities that have block funding agreements.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Christensen. Just a reminder to the Members, it is hard to hear individuals making a presentation so, please keep the chitter-chatter down and respect other people when they are making presentations. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was hoping that Mr. Christensen would tell me that three year period had started prior to my term in office but it looks like it was right before that three years and now extended for one further year. So, can this be reconciled when we get to page 4-42 where it has block funding for Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik and Fort Simpson at $2.4 million. Then perhaps we can get further explanation when we come to that point as to how that block funding works as well.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Christensen
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Do you want that explanation now or..
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Christensen
The amount shown for block funding on page 4-42 is related to the operations and maintenance component of the block funding agreements. Within the budget we have amounts that are shown for the capital portion of the block funding agreement and the portion shown for the operations and maintenance portion of the block funding agreement, so of the amounts shown for block funding agreements on page 4-42, there would be operations and maintenance block funding shown for Fort Smith, Hay River, Fort Simpson and Inuvik and if you are interested in the numbers I can just read them off. Fort Smith is $593,000, Hay River is $623,000, Fort Simpson is $870,000 and Inuvik is $546,000. The capital portions would be added to that for the total amount of the block funding agreement for each community.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Christensen. Committee operations, Fort Smith region. Total Fort Smith region, $4.064 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
The Chair David Krutko
Community operations, detailed capital, Inuvik region. Total Inuvik region, $3.267 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 297
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
The Chair David Krutko
Infrastructure, headquarters region. Total headquarters region, $644,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Mr. Chairman, is there a duplication here, because the first one you read out in 4-28 is total Inuvik region for community operations and then there is another community operations, total Inuvik region, $3.009 million, the one you just read out? Could we have an explanation of that please?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
McLeod
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe the second part relates to infrastructure and the first part relates to capital itself. So, I think one part refers to the headquarters and the other part is contributions. So, I think that is the difference in the two totals.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When I look at my books here, it says details of capital continued on page 4-28 and I see total contributions for Inuvik region of $8.636 million and when I look at page 4-29 at the top, it still says details of capital and total infrastructure Inuvik region, $3.009 million. Is it a misprint here, or should one be capital and one operations?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Henry. I believe, Mr. Henry, we dealt with the contributions on page 4-25 and 4-26, 4-27, halfway down the page on page 4-28, we are dealing with infrastructure and that is why we are dealing with another different item than the contributions. Mr. Minister.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Perhaps Mr. Christensen could explain the differences.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Christensen
The difference is that the amounts shown under total contributions are on page 4-28 where it says total Inuvik region, $3.267 million, that relates to funding that is provided as a contribution to community governments for capital projects. Whereas the total on page 4-29, which says, total Inuvik, $1.5 million, refers to capital projects in the Inuvik region, but projects which are carried out under the direct project management control of the government and it is the way they have divided up the projects between projects that are voted as contributions, such as funding we can give directly to community governments and projects that we retain within government to carry out directly.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Christensen. We were dealing with community operations, detailed capital, infrastructure, total Inuvik region, $1.500 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
The Chair David Krutko
Community operations, grants and contributions. Grants, $1.921 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the senior citizen and disabled property tax, there was a motion passed last year in the House here that this government should do everything it could to ensure that municipalities did not place a maximum on the taxes that were forgiven for seniors because senior citizens are primarily on a fixed budget. I would like to know what steps have been taken to ensure that communities do not place a ceiling on the taxes that are forgiven. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 298
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
McLeod
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. With regards to the senior citizens' tax relief, generally the way it works is there are two different systems or means of addressing it. One is through the GTA, as we call it, or the general taxation area, and there is also the municipal taxation area, which generally is the six tax-based municipalities. With regards to the property tax relief, generally, if you are a senior you can receive tax relief up to a certain percentage. I think part of the problem that I think you are referring to is where the GTA or the general taxation area have been providing relief to senior citizens, whether or not both of the partners were senior citizens.
There was a concern expressed by the municipal taxation authorities that there was a benefit that was available to senior citizens in the general taxation area, but not in the municipal taxation area. The department has reviewed the situation and it is prepared to recommend changes to the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Tax Relief Act so that tax relief would go to senior citizens and it would not be based on the co-ownership of the property. If you are a senior citizen then you would be entitled to tax relief. For example, if you were a senior citizen and your spouse was not, you would be entitled to receive 50 percent tax relief. That is the approach that we have been recommending and we will be looking to initiate these changes hopefully for the year 2000-2001. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I believe that was half of our motion or it may have been a separate motion. The one I am talking about is municipalities where there is municipal taxation and they place a cap on the amount of money that they will forgive and particularly in Yellowknife. Senior citizens, if their house is valued beyond a certain level, I am not sure how much it is, they might only receive $1,000 and after that, the taxes over that, then that senior citizen has to pay his own taxes. I think that senior citizens, for the most part, are on fixed incomes. They may still have a big house, it still may be worth lots, but that does not mean that they have an unlimited amount of money coming in so that they can pay for those taxes beyond the cap that the City of Yellowknife has put on it.
We had passed a motion here. I believe that everybody in the House or everybody on this side anyways, voted against it. Some of those guys were over here then too. I believe we all voted for it. What I would like to know is what steps has the department taken to try and ensure that communities such as Yellowknife do not place a cap on the taxes? The GNWT does not, but yet the City is doing that to citizens who we are trying to keep in the north and who we are trying to keep in their own homes. If people cannot afford to pay their taxes, they are going to sell their house and move into social housing which is free. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I will refer the question to the Deputy Minister.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
McLeod
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. My understanding is that the rebate that is provided is tied into the amount of funding that the department provides to the municipality and in order to eliminate the cap there would have to be more funding provided from the department to the municipalities. That is my understanding of the way the tax rebate or relief for senior citizens works.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Madam Chairperson, I believe the way it works is that if the GNWT gives $500 for tax rebate, the city of Yellowknife will also provide $500. It is a matching thing. That is the way it was last year anyway, unless it has changed. It is not tied to the amount of money that we provide, they simply put a cap on it saying that once your house is taxed at a certain level, we will not give you any more rebate. That is the way it was explained to us when we passed that motion.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
McLeod
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I guess up to a certain point, once the money runs out, then, it has been my understanding that that is their rationale behind the cap on it. We would be prepared to get more detailed information and provide it to the Member if he wishes. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Can we get an indication of this amount of money that is being provided then? How is that amount established? This $155,000 right here.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you. Is the information that we are receiving, does mean that this $155,000 that is in here or what does that mean? I did not think it was tied to this in any way. It was simply that the GNWT did not place a cap on the amount of money that could be forgiven. They would match whatever the municipality forgave and in the instance of the city of Yellowknife, I think it is $1,000 or something like that.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 299
Christensen
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I guess I will elaborate a little bit to say that within the department we have not really pursued that option very far at all. The philosophy behind the original program was for the department to respond by providing assistance to seniors and disabled persons to a rebate on their property taxes, but it was to take the policy lead of the municipal government itself as opposed to say that we would share it 50/50 up to the total bill, to avoid, I suppose, the situation where we might fund 100 percent and the
municipality may only fund 80 percent. That was the basis for the way the program was designed was to take the lead from the municipal government and how it set its local policy on property tax assistance for that group. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Sorry, I had a note here that I forgot to mention. If I recall correctly, what we had recommended was that the department try to convince the city and other municipalities that they should use a means test so that all senior citizens are not cut off after a certain point. Some people may be able to afford to pay their taxes but others might be just barely getting by because they might only be on Canada Pension which a lot of them are only getting $700 or $800 a month or something like that. Can we find out if there was anything that was done to try to see if a means test could be put into place for people once they reach a certain level?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
McLeod
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. My understanding is our predecessor may have raised this with the City administration but we are prepared to review it and to determine how we could work it on that basis, and to bring it forward to the City who has always taken the lead in determining the level of tax relief for senior citizens. We would be prepared to raise this matter with the suggestion that they apply a means test to the tax relief that is provided to senior citizens if that is the direction we are given here. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I have on my list Mr. Krutko and Mr. Henry. Mr. Krutko.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Just following up on Mr. Erasmus' questions, I believe this issue came up a couple of years ago. We were trying to find a way to streamline the whole tax system because it is very cumbersome for a lot of the elders to try to understand why they keep getting these tax notices and exactly what they are for. I do not think a lot of them understand that there is the rebate system. One of the things we are suggesting if we could co-ordinate it with their pensions, that automatically they will not have to pay property taxes because of them receiving their pensions. Automatically, the government would know that these are elders and these people do not have to file for this exemption every year. I would like to ask the department what they have done to consider revising this system?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, what the department could do is research the intent of the motion that was passed last year in this House and the comments from the Members at that time, as well as, we would take into consideration the comments and the suggestions made by the Members today and try to come up with some solution to the problem. However, in response to Mr. Krutko's question, I direct the question to Mr. McLeod.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
McLeod
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. We are quite prepared to work with our colleagues under the social envelope where we work with the various departments such as Health and Social Services and Education, and so on, to try to ensure that we tie all of these programs together so that we minimize the amount of hassles that we have for senior citizens, so that we can try to ensure that our programs that we deliver are in the best interests of the senior citizens. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. When I look at the NWT Association of Municipalities, I see the same levels of funding proposed in the 1999-2000 Main Estimates as has been in the previous year. Is there an explanation for why the same amount of funding would be given to the organization? Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
McLeod
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. The amount of funding remains the same because my understanding is that we have not adjusted the amounts. This is an amount that only goes to the NWTAM in the west and we also assist the association through other means of funding, through extraordinary funding and also the association does undertake its own fundraising in various respects. We work closely with the association and we have not seen the need to increase the amount. As you are aware, the association over this past April 1st has split into two associations, into the NWT Association of Municipalities and the Nunavut Association of Municipalities. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Thank you for the information that the association is splitting into two bodies. Again, it just begs the question, if this government has funded the NWT Association of Municipalities $131,000 last year for a complete Northwest Territories as it was prior to April 1st, why are we funding the same amount of money for a much smaller area? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 300
McLeod
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe the reason is exactly the same as these numbers have been adjusted to reflect only the west so the previous year's figures have been adjusted and been restated so the Nunavut components have already been taken out. For that reason, it reads the same. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can the Minister give me the actual figures that the Association of Municipalities were funded by the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 1998-1999 fiscal year?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We do not have the information on hand here, but we could have the figure for the Member.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and I thank the Minister for his acknowledgement that he will provide that additional information, but for the present time, then, can the Minister confirm that the Association of Municipalities got more than $131,000 last year from the Government of the Northwest Territories for the last fiscal year. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I believe the figure that has been used, as the deputy minister referred, is in fact the western portion of the total cost and this is confirmed. The following page 4-33 on the bottom states that the figures just reflect the western part of the total department's figure from the previous years. We can get the figure for the Member at a later date, but I believe that is the western portion of the NWTAM contribution.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That provides a little better clarity. The figures that are presented here are adjustments to last year's figures, the proportionate amount that was spent in the western portion. That is certainly a lot clearer now. I take it that all of the amounts on 4-32, the same principle would apply. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
The Chair David Krutko
Mr. Henry, could you go through the chair, please, with your comments. Mr. Minister.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe that is correct but I will ask Mr. McLeod to confirm that.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
McLeod
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is correct and that is the way the Main Estimates are written. It seems to jump back and forth. In this case I think that the note on the bottom of page 4-33 clarifies that it is only applicable to the Western Territories. Thank you.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Grants and contributions, grants, $1.921 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
The Chair David Krutko
Page 4-36. Community development, operations and maintenance, $1.514 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
The Chair David Krutko
Page 4-38. Community development, grants and contributions. Total contributions, $37,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
The Chair David Krutko
Page 4-40. Regional operations, operations and maintenance, $30.728 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
The Chair David Krutko
Regional operations, grants and contributions. Grants, $1.558 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
The Chair David Krutko
School of Community Government, operations and maintenance, $931,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
The Chair David Krutko
Information item, active positions. Any questions? Details of work performed on behalf of others. Total department, $344,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
The Chair David Krutko
Page 4-7. Program summary, operations and maintenance, $47.803 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 301
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
April 22nd, 1999
Page 301
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 302
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 302
The Chair David Krutko
I would like to thank the Minister and his witnesses for their presentation.
--Applause
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 302
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 302
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 302
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. The motion is in order. The motion is not debatable. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. I will now rise to report progress.
Committee Motion 2-13(7): Recommendation To Standardize Maca Organization Charts On GNWT Wide Basis
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 302
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The House will come back to order. Good evening. We are on item 21, report of committee of the whole. Mr. Krutko.