This is page numbers 515 - 539 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 4th 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 tax.

Topics

Further Return To Question 168-14(4): Review Of Seniors' Tax Relief
Question 168-14(4): Review Of Seniors' Tax Relief
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 528

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 168-14(4): Review Of Seniors' Tax Relief
Question 168-14(4): Review Of Seniors' Tax Relief
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 528

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I spoke earlier, some seniors in Hay River have a spouse who is currently working and this puts the senior citizen in a position of being over the income threshold in order to qualify for property tax relief, although in some cases just barely, Mr. Speaker.

One possible solution would be to offer the affected seniors a 50 percent reduction in their property taxes, as opposed to the current 100 percent reduction. In keeping with the current funding arrangement, MACA could contribute 25 percent of the reimbursement and the tax-based municipality could possibly contribute the other 25 percent. This would allow for more flexibility, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister consider working with tax-based municipalities such as Hay River to arrange for a more equitable arrangement for seniors who have higher incomes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 168-14(4): Review Of Seniors' Tax Relief
Question 168-14(4): Review Of Seniors' Tax Relief
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 528

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Further Return To Question 168-14(4): Review Of Seniors' Tax Relief
Question 168-14(4): Review Of Seniors' Tax Relief
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 528

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that that is one of the considerations. As we know, we are trying to help the seniors with some relief. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 168-14(4): Review Of Seniors' Tax Relief
Question 168-14(4): Review Of Seniors' Tax Relief
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 528

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

October 29th, 2001

Page 528

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are again for the Minister of Transportation as a follow-up to my statement earlier today. During August and into September, I know that I received an awful lot of calls and letters from constituents talking about scary trips on the road between Rae and Yellowknife. I know that we had an unseasonable amount of rain and that led to unsafe conditions. We should never have that type of unsafe condition if we are adequately maintaining the roads, I would argue. I would say it is inadequate maintenance.

After this last summer, will the Minister commit to ensure that he brings forward a budget for next year that includes adequate funds to maintain that road properly even if we had another wet summer?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Return To Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I can assure the Member that it will be in the business plan. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, even this summer, in response to the very wet conditions we had to deal with and with the increase in traffic, including heavy traffic, we have increased the maintenance on Highway No. 3. We have put more equipment on Highway No. 3, including the use of contractors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister committing to bring those forward in his budget. Will the Minister also consider erecting road signs, particularly those electronic road signs we have seen in other provinces, that warn travellers about dangerous conditions ahead or advise of highway conditions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we certainly will give the Member's suggestion more thought. I would like the Member to be aware that this has been discussed and brought up by other Members, proper signage on Highway No. 3, and as a result of this we have given quite a fair, serious discussion on the amount of signage on Highway No. 3. We have to take it and weigh it in regard to having so much signage that it becomes a distraction to drivers. We have taken all of this into consideration.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, the Member has a good suggestion, but there is only so much we can do.

Further Return To Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister committing to look at this situation, but I did not hear a time- table in there. Just for the record, I do not believe we have reached the point yet where there is too much signage that it is distracting on that highway.

Will the Minister commit to examine the issue of improved signage to warn of highway conditions in time that he can put it in this year's budget if it is found to be feasible?

-- Interjection

Mr. Speaker, I did not mean this year's budget, I mean next year's budget, if it is feasible, so they can be on the highway for next summer.

Supplementary To Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The Chair caught that. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am referring to more than just ordinary warning signs. I am referring to the actual cones that we put up as warnings as well. There are a number of ways we have taken to warn the public of the conditions on Highway No. 3. They are distractions as well as assistance to the drivers, if there are too many. As a matter of fact, I have letters where some people have taken to counting the cones on the highways to see who can come up with the highest number.

We are taking all of this seriously, Mr. Speaker, and as the Member suggested, there is a point where it is not a matter so much of too much signage as it is, does it help the situation at all? We still have to address the problem with Highway No. 3 in that there is a fair amount of traffic increasing every year on Highway No. 3, and that is heavy traffic, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Question 169-14(4): Adequate Maintenance Funding For Highway No. 3
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question goes back to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, following on my earlier questions about day care programs and subsidies.

I would like to know from the Minister, what is the criteria for someone who is applying for a day care subsidy? What is the criteria that they would have to meet? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Return To Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a parent or guardian who attends school or who is working, but has inadequate income to meet their basic needs, including child care expenses, are the individuals who would be eligible, Mr. Speaker. There is a program to deal with after school as well as during school time, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 529

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister did include after school. Is there something that is, say for example, around the lunch time part of the day as well, in that programming?

Supplementary To Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The term after school is not defined, Mr. Speaker, and I am making an assumption here that it is after school closes rather than during the school day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Question 170-14(4): Criteria For Day Care Subsidies
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 530

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.