This is page numbers 1 - 34 of the Hansard for the 15th 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 going.

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David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and get back to my Member's statement from earlier where I've suggested that the department isn't being fair with all communities. I think the department has an obligation to be fair to communities, whether they be small or whether they be tax-based larger communities. Case in point, if you look at the gas tax monies, it was 1 percent plus per capita, then on the MRIF it went to 1.5 percent plus per capita and now we're at 2 percent plus per capita. I'd like to ask the Minister why there's a steady escalation in the base which negatively impacts larger communities. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The New Deal for community governments was initially targeted for the non-tax-based communities. We had started proceeding in that area and this is a recommendation that went back to the Special Joint Committee on Non-Tax-Based Communities to provide better support to all our communities. After a lot of discussion at the Cabinet level and some studies that pointed to the situation with the larger tax-based centres, we decided to roll the tax-based communities into the whole New Deal concept and break out some of the dollars that were earmarked specifically for the small communities now was being shared by the larger communities. I think speaking of fairness, all the larger centres did very well. Fort Smith received 101 percent increase in their budgeting. Hay River received a 91 percent increase overall. Yellowknife received 63 percent. I think that's very fair. I can't see it working in a model where the smaller communities divide the money that's being cost shared across the board to a smaller pot where they can't do anything with it. Then the program wouldn't work, Mr. Speaker. So that's the reason for the 2 percent base. Thank you.

Return To Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the Minister's making it sound like all the communities are lucky to get what they get. Tax-based municipalities should feel grateful for whatever they get. But the fact of the matter is the City of Yellowknife has been negatively impacted. The Minister mentioned a 63 percent increase, but according to the numbers I've got it's close to a $600,000 loss because of the funding change, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister, in terms of consistency, is there going to be a consistent approach and is this the base-plus now that MACA has? Is that going to be consistently applied, or are there going to be further increases to that base? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is the base, this is the formula that we've introduced. All our formulas are in place. The water and sewer formula has been, the new model has been agreed upon. We've introduced forced growth in some of the programs and we've also decided on a formula for the capital, including the gas tax, and that is going to stay consistent. This year we weren't able to roll out all the capital because some of the projects had been, there's been...We had to carry them over. However, next year all the capital will be rolled out, the gas tax will be in place, all the funding will be rolling out April 1st, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, judging by the concerns that were raised earlier by my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen and the concerns with the City of Yellowknife in terms of funding, would the Minister commit to sitting down with the officials of the City of Yellowknife, the Town of Hay River, and other communities that feel impacted by the funding and have a discussion regarding what they deem is consistent and fair in terms of an approach by MACA? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've done that already. We met with the City of Yellowknife, we met with the Town of Hay River, we met with all the communities of the Northwest Territories, and I think some of them even had a second go-round. But we'd certainly be willing to meet with the City of Yellowknife and if there's a desire from the Town of Hay River, we'd be willing to do that also. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Question 10-15(6): Impacts Of New Deal Funding Formulas On Tax-based Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay. Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Transportation. I want to ask the Minister of Transportation in terms of the dates here on the Transportation Canada's regulation on the extension of runways. I know the Minister is doing some studies. They're looking at some solutions, three years from now. Would the Minister look at some solutions with the northern airline companies in our region to look at what's feasible for our people, but also what would make Transport Canada satisfied in terms of the extension of our runways, because it's going to cost millions? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, the department is continuing to receive many, many requests to extend runways in the communities and the extensions are very expensive and they must be justified based on their needs there, Mr. Speaker. This fiscal year we are conducting another comprehensive study, as we have done one back in 1998, to look at the realities of extending the mini runways that are out in the communities and to see the exact cost estimates there, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly agree with the Minister, that many communities are asking for extension of runways. I'm asking for the Sahtu region. The communities that need their runways, such as Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope, Tulita and Deline, in terms of these runways being extended because the other communities have all-weather road access into their communities and some of them have a winter road that could go there. But our region here in terms of Mackenzie gas activity, will the Minister look at a solution by industry, by his government, by this government, by the federal government and also airline companies, saying we could do this instead of looking at spending millions of dollars? Otherwise we're going to put it, in the Sahtu, in jeopardy in terms of the safety of our aircrafts landing in our communities. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Certainly supplying the communities is a concern, as well as getting in and out for many back services is absolutely a concern. Based on the information that our department has got from Transport Canada is that there's a bit of an incorrect reading of how the Transport Canada rules are to be applied. What they are saying is that their requirements for the runway extensions are, there will be a rule in 2010, but it doesn't really apply to ours. We've done an assessment and have determined that the runways that are currently in our communities suit our needs and the aircraft that are using them presently, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you. So, Mr. Speaker, is the Minister saying that the people in the Sahtu can expect that a Beech 99, the Beech 200 planes, that sort will continue being used in the Sahtu region and that the ruling from Transport Canada will not hinder them and they will still be continuing on this type of service? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Without getting into the specifics, certainly it's the type of aircraft that is limited by the runway length, Mr. Speaker. Once again, we've determined that the current runway lengths are suitable for the communities that we do have.

Further Return To Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Question 11-15(6): Airport Runway Extensions In The Sahtu Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to have further discussions with the Minister, but that will be another time. Now, because of the aircrafts that are suitable, can they carry, like the Twin Otter, it's suitable but if you have...(inaudible)...come in they could haul 14 passengers. But if the zoning comes in, they have to cut back to nine passengers. The price ticket will go up, you know, and then who's that suitable for? The airline companies or for Transport Canada because they ain't suitable for our pockets in the Sahtu. It costs a lot of money. So we want to know, will they continue on with the type of service they have now, the number of passengers they have? Otherwise they'll have to cut back on the passengers. Thank you.