Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, there is no ceiling in the legislation. There is requirement that an investment plan can only be for a five-year duration, but there is no financial limit to the investments in the legislation. Thank you.
Debates of Oct. 8th, 2003
This is page numbers 1299 - 1354 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th 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
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Delancey
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Moving on to Section 68(1), a municipal corporation may encourage economic development for a municipal purpose, including the establishment, expansion or a continuation of a business or an industry in the municipality in any manner it considers appropriate. But when we go on to section two, it says a municipal corporation shall not purchase share or provide loans or guarantees to encourage economic development. Just for clarification, could the Minister please rationalize the distinction between those two? They seem, at first glance, to contradict each other.
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Aitken
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think 68(1) refers to thinks that a municipal corporation may encourage. It may encourage economic development for municipal purposes including encouraging the establishment expansion, continuation of a business or interest or industry in the municipality. So it can, for instance, perhaps offer that it will pave a road out to an industrial development area or it may offer that we, in some other way, encourage the industry to establish itself there, but it is limited by subsection two in that it may not purchase shares in a corporation that's an established industry and it may not provide loans or guarantees to encourage the establishment of the industry in that area. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, then a corporation shall not purchase shares and yet we just heard if it's within the municipal corporation's investment plan, they could in fact establish a corporation or acquire shares in a corporation or a municipal purpose. I find that a little confusing as well. So perhaps the Minister or his officials could explain how according to their investment plan, they could acquire and hold shares but section 68(2) says shall not purchase shares or provide loan guarantees to encourage economic development. Thank you.
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Delancey
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would say 68(2) is intended to limit or put some brakes on the broader interpretation of what kinds of investments the municipal corporation can enter into. So although it may appear to be contradictory, this is meant to preclude them entering directly into these kinds of investments. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
So, Mr. Chairman, when Ms. DeLancey says it would put the brakes on investing in these kinds of investments versus investments for municipal purpose, what is the distinction there?
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Delancey
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe there is not a greater degree of definition in the bill at this point than what is provided here. Again, it is envisioned that for some of these provisions, regulations will provide greater clarity. Thank you.
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So going back to 68(1), a municipal corporation can encourage economic development. So giving the example then of building a road to a certain site that would help establish, expand or continue a business or industry in the community, is there any ceiling anticipated with respect to that or is it wide open? Thank you.
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Aitken
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I hope I am understanding Mrs. Groenewegen's question. Section 67 is limited by subsection 67(2), which refers to what a corporation may be established for and what its shares may be acquired or held for. The shares will be held completely by in this corporation and it can only be held jointly with another party if it's for the purposes of section 61, 62 or 63. Quickly flipping back, we are dealing on 61 with an agreement with an agent to provide a service, public utility or facility as an agent of a corporation; 62 deals with the delegation to another government or entity of the authority for administering or delivering any service or program on behalf of a municipal corporation; and, 63 deals with the authorizing the municipal corporation itself to act as a delegate of another government or entity for purposes of delivering services. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
I guess what I am trying to get at here is how much latitude a municipal corporation has with respect to the use of taxpayers' money without having to seek approval in some form from the ratepayers. I guess that's just a check and balance that I am interested in and concerned about. I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with any of these things that are anticipated that we are talking about including municipalities generating revenue other than from taxation of property, but I do think that there needs to be mechanism in place to ensure that where these are of a substantive nature that there be some way for ratepayers, voters, the electorate to participate more thoroughly than just once every three years when they elect the mayor and municipal council. So I was disappointed to see that the committee hadn't felt it necessary to put those kinds of restrictions in this legislation. That's all I have to say at this time on those sections, 1 to 68, in schedule B. Thank you.
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Schedule B, Cities, Towns and Villages Act, page 106 of the bill, section 1 through 68.
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 136-14(6) To Consult And Bring Forward Amendments To The Settlements Act , Carried
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 137-14(6): To Amend Schedule B Of Bill 25, Defeated
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have a motion. I move that schedule B of Bill 25 be amended by adding the following after proposed section 68:
69.(1) A municipal corporation that intends to engage in the activity of selling products or services commercially, using municipal equipment, materials and labour to carry out private works on private property or establishing a business, must first by bylaw approved by the voters, authorize that activity.
(2) Subsection 1) does not apply in respect of any activity engaged in by the municipal corporation before this section comes into force. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 137-14(6): To Amend Schedule B Of Bill 25, Defeated
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Paul Delorey
The motion is being circulated. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Committee Motion 137-14(6): To Amend Schedule B Of Bill 25, Defeated
Revert To Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Question.