Thank you, Minister Ootes. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.
Debates of Nov. 16th, 2000
This is page numbers 943 - 983 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd 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 chairman.
Topics
Further Return To Question 298-14(3): Remissible Loans For Nwt Students
Question 298-14(3): Remissible Loans For NWT Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 959
Supplementary To Question 298-14(3): Remissible Loans For Nwt Students
Question 298-14(3): Remissible Loans For NWT Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 959
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Related to the program, I recall that there were some discussions with other students who were affected in a different way by the changes in this program. A student group, last year, lobbied us. I am just wondering if there are dollar implications for this other than just this specific group that we are talking about. If there are other implications, could the Minister explain?
Supplementary To Question 298-14(3): Remissible Loans For Nwt Students
Question 298-14(3): Remissible Loans For NWT Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 959
Further Return To Question 298-14(3): Remissible Loans For Nwt Students
Question 298-14(3): Remissible Loans For NWT Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 959
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is, of course, the issue of transition and students who had used up their entitlements and there was a request, of course, to expand those entitlements beyond what their entitlements were. That was another issue that was out there by some students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 298-14(3): Remissible Loans For Nwt Students
Question 298-14(3): Remissible Loans For NWT Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 959
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Question 299-14(3): Making National Aboriginal Day A Holiday
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 959
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Earlier this summer, I questioned the Premier with regard to the possibility of establishing or declaring Aboriginal Day a statutory holiday. In the meantime, there have been several letters written to the Premier and also myself asking that we do seriously consider that. There were letters from the municipalities, First Nations organizations, local hamlets and also the Metis locals and band councils. I would like to ask the Premier, has the Premier had an opportunity to consider it and what is he doing on this matter?
Question 299-14(3): Making National Aboriginal Day A Holiday
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 959
Return To Question 299-14(3): Making National Aboriginal Day A Holiday
Question 299-14(3): Making National Aboriginal Day A Holiday
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 959
Return To Question 299-14(3): Making National Aboriginal Day A Holiday
Question 299-14(3): Making National Aboriginal Day A Holiday
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 959
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
November 15th, 2000
Page 959
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Premier for responding to my question from two weeks ago, and agreeing that this government will stand behind commitments made by employees of the government.
-- Applause
Mr. Speaker, that is the answer that I had expected and I would hope for nothing less. Mr. Speaker, I have a constituent who was promised by an employee of this government that if she attended school, passed the courses and remained in the Northwest Territories, that she would receive remissible loans throughout the course of her study. Part way through her course of study, this government changed the plan and reneged on its promise to give her those remissible loans. Will the Premier direct the Minister responsible for Education to reconsider this position and take a look at honouring the promises that were made to some people in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 960
Return To Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 960
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will give serious consideration to what the Member is suggesting, but as I said in my response to the question asked earlier by the Member, that amongst a number of conditions, guidelines or qualifiers, it also must be within the government's financial capabilities. We will have to look at what exactly was made and respect that. Thank you.
Return To Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 960
Supplementary To Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 960
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Premier's response and look forward to hearing about the review. I would encourage the Premier to work with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment because as the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment just said to Ms. Lee, some of the costs here are dependent on your definition of grandfathering. I think that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has developed a definition that they would like to see used and are not convinced that is the definition the Minister has referred to. Will the Premier agree to work with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to review what definition of grandfathering is appropriate?
Supplementary To Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 960
Further Return To Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 960
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All the Ministers in this government have responsibilities that are assigned to them, and as the Premier, I am supportive as I can be to help them do the best job that they can. I try to be there everyday for them. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 960
Supplementary To Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 960
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reason I asked the Premier to ensure he works with the Minister, is in his earlier response he refers to, within financial capabilities. I am sure there will be some question about the level of financial cost here. I would hope that would be something that would also be examined. Will the Premier commit to examining what was really meant by financial cost?
Supplementary To Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 960
Further Return To Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 960
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for his questions. I will continue to work with my Ministers to ensure that they are supported in their endeavour to do the best job possible for the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Question 300-14(3): Honouring Commitments To Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 960
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Your final supplementary, Mr. Dent. The time allocated for question period has expired. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.
Return To Written Question 11-14(3): Compliance Audits Of Northwest Territories Businesses
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions
Page 960
Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton
Mr. Speaker, Return to Written Question 11-14(3) asked by Mr. Dent to the Minister of Finance concerning compliance audits of Northwest Territories businesses.
Q.1Twelve field audits have been performed on collectors; in addition to these, the government performs desk audits on all registrants once a year on receipt of their annual return.
Q.2Six field audits were performed on registrations in the Northwest Territories and six were on southern companies. Desk audits are performed on all filers of annual returns. Of these, 1,088 had a mailing address in the Northwest Territories and 707 were on companies registered outside the Northwest Territories.
Q.3Seven field audits showed under-reporting, one audit showed over-reporting, and the balance confirmed the amounts reported. Field audits are undertaken based on a risk assessment. Annual desk audits findings are treated as corrections to returns and not tracked as over or under-reporting.
Q.4Of the 12 field audits performed half were southern companies.
Q.5 Including direct and indirect costs, the payroll tax costs $163,000 annually to administer.
Return To Written Question 12-14(3): Payroll Tax Remittance
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions
Page 960
Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton
Return to Written Question 12-14(3) asked by Mr. Bell to the Minister of Finance concerning payroll tax remittance.
Q.1In the 1999-2000 year, no registrant was assessed the $100 failure to file penalty.
Q.2The registrant may notify the Minister of Finance of circumstances that could warrant the Minister applying section 38(5) of the Payroll Tax Act, extending the time which a registrant has to file a return and subsequently the time before a penalty would apply.
Q.3No remissions of penalties or interest were granted in the 1999-2000 fiscal year.
Q.4The Government of the Northwest Territories has two staff performing desk audits of payroll tax remittances and annual returns, in addition to other duties. An investigator, who also audits other GNWT taxes, performs field audits of payroll tax collectors.
Return To Written Question 14-14(3): Funding To Offset Fort Mcpherson Water System Costs
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions
Page 961
Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton
Return to Written Question 14-14(3) asked by Mr. Krutko to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs concerning funding to offset Fort McPherson water system costs.
No funds have been offered to the community of Fort McPherson to offset the costs associated with the water system.
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has committed to offer the following assistance to the community of Fort McPherson:
-The Department of Public Works and Services will work with the Hamlet of Fort McPherson to update the operating agreement for the water treatment plant. Officials from the Department of Public Works and Services will contact the community in the near future.
-Municipal and Community Affairs will assist the hamlet to develop a plan of action to deal with the hamlet's overall financial position as well as to deal with short-term problems. Staff from Municipal and Community Affairs have contacted the senior administrative officer to develop a work plan in this area.
Return To Written Question 14-14(3): Funding To Offset Fort Mcpherson Water System Costs
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions
Page 961
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Item 7, returns to written questions. Before we proceed to the next item on the order paper, the House will take a short break. I would just like to remind Members to join the Minister for Youth in the Great Hall to meet some of the young people from across the North who have come here to discuss important things with the Minister. The House will take a short break.
-- Break