Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Hawkins on May 15, 2007, regarding the impact of the Deh Cho Bridge on public service allowances.
- How will the Deh Cho Bridge specifically impact the northern allowances paid to the Government of the Northwest Territories public service?
The northern allowance methodology has two components:
- • cost of return transportation to Edmonton, including accessibility factor
- • cost of living differential between Yellowknife and Northwest Territories communities.
Based on the current methodology used to calculate the northern allowance, a bridge should not have a negative impact on the northern allowance.
The accessibility factor is based on the amount of time that a community has road access. Communities are based on two levels: 50 percent or more of the time with road access or 50 percent of the time without road access. As Yellowknife, Behchoko and Fort Providence fall under the former, a bridge would not change this factor.
If the negotiated methodology remains the same when the bridge is built and the bridge results in lower costs for
goods in Yellowknife, Behchoko and Fort Providence, the Yellowknife rate will not change unless the parties specifically negotiate a reduction to it as Yellowknife forms the base rate. If the relativity in cost reductions between Yellowknife, Behchoko and Fort Providence remain the same, there will be no change to Behchoko and Fort Providence.
If the bridge does not result in lower costs for communities not accessed by the bridge, the current methodology may provide for even higher northern allowances in the communities as compared to Yellowknife.
- What specific impact will the Deh Cho Bridge have on isolated post allowances and other benefits paid to Government of Canada employees in the Northwest Territories?
The allowances provided to employees of the Government of Canada are developed in partnership by employer and bargaining agent representatives at the National Joint Council. Its provisions form part of the collective agreements of the participating parties under the bylaws of the National Joint Council. The provisions also apply to persons not covered by collective agreements, as indicated in the directive or by employer policy.
As this is not a program of the GNWT, it is not known what the impact will be on Government of Canada employees; however, the following components may be affected:
Environment allowance is composed of the following factors: population, climate, barrens/taiga, and access. Assuming Fort Providence, Behchoko and Yellowknife are classified as posts with all-weather road access and assuming the three communities currently receive zero points for the access factor, as they are "less than 402 km from a population centre of 15,000," the bridge would have no impact on the environment allowance.
Living cost differential allowance is provided if the community LCD is above the 115 index level, compared to Edmonton. Yellowknife's 2005 LCD indicates 117.5 with Fort Providence and Behchoko at 132.5 and 122.5 respectively. If the bridge results in lower LCDs, these communities would receive lower allowances.
If, in the case of Yellowknife, the bridge results in an LCD lower than 115, Yellowknife would no longer be eligible for this allowance.
Fuel and utilities differential. The differential paid is based on the differential between the national composite billing cost for fuel and utilities plus 15 percent, and the calculated fuel and utilities cost at the isolated post. It is possible the bridge could have an impact on the costs of fuel and utilities in the three communities resulting in a lower allowance.