This is page numbers 41 - 72 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 8th 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 information.

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Supplementary To Question 21-13(8): GNWT Position On Assistance To Giant Mine
Question 21-13(8): GNWT Position On Assistance To Giant Mine
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 48

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 21-13(8): GNWT Position On Assistance To Giant Mine
Question 21-13(8): GNWT Position On Assistance To Giant Mine
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories has advanced certain positions with the federal government and the receiver. We have said that we want to ensure that the employees of Giant Mine receive fair treatment, that they are not treated frivolously or that parties do not undertake action which would undermine the status and the benefits that should be honoured and which should flow to the employees. We have said that to the federal government and we have stated that as well to the receiver. We will also look to proposals to maximize the economic benefits to the North, which includes trying to maintain as many jobs as possible. We have also said that it is fairly fundamental that the federal government commit to a reclamation plan in partnership with whoever will wish to purchase and take ownership of the existing mine. Those are positions that we have taken, we have shared those with the union, with the federal government and with the receiver. We will continue to work on that. You should note that most of the labour issues and the environmental issues are all issues that can only be dealt with and addressed by the federal government. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 21-13(8): GNWT Position On Assistance To Giant Mine
Question 21-13(8): GNWT Position On Assistance To Giant Mine
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Item 6: Oral Questions

September 8th, 1999

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Before I start I would like to congratulate the Minister on this new initiative, with the binder entitled, Promising and Practices, Ideas at Work in Northern Secondary Classrooms. It sounds like a very, very good initiative. Similarly, I hope that he will support this initiative that is being started by the Native Student Services at the University of Alberta which is for housing aboriginal students from the North. As I had indicated in my statement, Mr. Speaker, the students require a small one time cash infusion to help them purchase some furniture and a computer and I am wondering if the Minister could indicate whether the department is in a position to help them? As I indicated it is a very, very small, teeny amount of money and I am sure that it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware of the request. I have not had an opportunity yet to talk to the deputy about it, but it will be looked at within the context of the many other requests we get for funding, many of them in themselves could be considered teeny, but when added together come to a substantial sum. I appreciate the intent of what the folks are trying to do at the University of Alberta, so yes, we will be looking at this and it will be given serious consideration. Thank you.

Return To Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 48

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the equipment and the furniture is obviously, it is a one time infusion and it is a start up cost, so I would ask the Minister if he could do this, if he could endeavour to have a look at this as quickly as possible as there are people staying there now and they need this equipment as quickly as possible. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 48

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 48

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will commit to looking at this as quickly as possible. I recognize the urgency as the Member has indicated. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Question 22-13(8): Support For Northern House
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 48

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. It is regarding my

opening statement with regard to the seniors and trying to find a way to dealing with the property tax rebate that is given to them. One of the problems that we seem to keep running into in the smaller communities is that they have to reapply for such a program every year. I would like to ask the Minister, what is his department doing to try and find ways to resolve this and streamline it so it is a simpler process in which, once you become a senior, you are automatically put into the system that they know which property you own. It would be in the computer systems through MACA or the lands title system so people would know that you are a pensioner, because you receive a pension from the Canadian Pension Plan. I would like to ask the Minister, what is his department doing to streamline this program so it is simpler for people to receive the rebate and not have to deal with reapplying every year?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Steen.

Return To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker in response to the Member's question, the department has been working with other departments including the Department of Finance to try to address this particular situation. It appears that because it is a rebate there is some requirement for the people involved to actually apply for a rebate on an annual basis. I know the department has included on the back of the invoices, there is a statement on the back of the invoice advising whoever is getting the bill that they are entitled to a rebate if they apply for it. Also, they have the ability to apply even before they actually make payments under taxes. They have the ability to apply for a rebate. Therefore they do not have to come up with the money, that they can have a rebate anyway. Also, Mr. Speaker, the department is working with the social committee to try to come up with some form of plan to put all the programs that seniors would be exempt from into one. However, right now we are still in the planning stage and we are working with the social committee on this plan, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 49

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 49

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is the problem with the rebate program is that you have to apply for it every year and I think that is where the concerns of the seniors are. Is there a better system that say, instead of having to apply every year that automatically once you become a pensioner, I mean you are not going to get any younger, you are eventually going to get older, so once you receive your pension you should be automatically put into the system. Rebates for programs such as your property tax assessment and your fuel subsidy, should be automatically given every year. That is what I am asking, is there a possibility of automatically having these programs given to all the seniors in the western territory automatically without having to go through the rebate?

Supplementary To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 49

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 49

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department, like I said, is in the process of trying to address this particular issue. We are working with the social committee, we are working with all the departments, we are open to any suggestions from the communities or from the Members as to how to address this particular situation. I am told there are some legalities involved here where there may be a requirement for people to actually apply for rebates because it is a rebate. It is therefore hard to tie it in with other programs that are not rebates. We are not sure if we can streamline this all into one, but we are in the process of trying to plan and find a way to address this position. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 49

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 49

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the suggestions that I put forth in my Member's statement is the possibility, through the Department of Justice and the Minister's Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, to come up with a consent form process where the senior automatically will consent to have their name renewed every year and any information that is relevant to the program, the government will be able to access that information through a consent form process so you do not have to go through this process year after year. Has the department considered looking at such a proposal as a means of making this system a little easier?

Supplementary To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 49

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 49

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the proposal, as suggested by the Member or any proposal, for that matter, will be taken into consideration by the department. If there are any benefits to the proposals, we will certainly include them in whatever the outcome of the plan is. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 49

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 49

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister made reference to the possibility of having people call the department with suggestions and maybe even look at public meetings. Is the department willing to consider maybe a 1-800 line so that they can take suggestions from seniors instead of going through the process of public meetings so that seniors can have a say in how they would like the program developed? Is the Minister willing to consider that process for consultation?

Supplementary To Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Question 23-13(8): Seniors' Property Tax Rebate
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 49

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Steen.