This is page numbers 377 - 404 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 communities.

Topics

Bill 17: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2006-2007
Item 19: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 396

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Bill 17: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2006-2007
Item 19: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 396

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 17 has had second reading and stands referred to the Committee of the Whole. Second reading of bills. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Roland.

Bill 18: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2007-2008
Item 19: Second Reading Of Bills

August 16th, 2007

Page 396

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2007-2008, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Thank you.

Bill 18: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2007-2008
Item 19: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 396

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Bill 18: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2007-2008
Item 19: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 397

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Bill 18: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2007-2008
Item 19: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 397

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 18 has had second reading and stands referred to Committee of the Whole. Second reading of bills. Consideration of Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bills 9, 10, 17 and 18. By the authority given to me as Speaker by Motion 9-15(6), I hereby resolve the House into Committee of the Whole to sit beyond the hour of adjournment until such time as the committee is ready to report progress, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 397

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

I would like to call the Committee of the Whole to order today. Members, we have several items before us. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Lafferty.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 9, Write-off of Debts Act, 2007-2008; Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2007-2008; Bill 17, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2006-2007; and Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2007-2008. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 397

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. Is committee agreed?

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 397

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed. We will do that after a short break.

---SHORT RECESS

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

I will call Committee of the Whole to order. The first order of business is Bill 9, Write-off of Debts Act, 2007-2008. I would now like to ask the Minister responsible if he would like to introduce the bill. Minister Roland.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Mr. Chairman, I am here to introduce Bill 9, Write-off of Debts Act, 2007-2008. This bill authorizes the write-off of the debts listed in the scheduled to the act.

Pursuant to section 24 of the Financial Administration Act, Legislative Assembly approval is required for the write-off of government assets or debts exceeding $20,000.

Pursuant to section 82 of the Financial Administration Act, the write-off of debts owed to a public agency exceeding $20,000 and the write-off of debts owed to the Workers' Compensation Board exceeding $50,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval.

The write-offs being proposed in this act will not require a new appropriation. They will be charged against allowances for bad debts which were established in department budgets at the time it was determined that collection of the debt would be unlikely.

I wish to emphasize that the write-off of a debt does not relieve a debtor of the liability for repayments. The government will continue to attempt to collect the outstanding amount.

Through continued reviews by staff, future recovery of the debt may still be achieved. In addition, in the case of debts owed by companies, staff will track the principals of each firm for future credit reference.

That concludes my opening remarks. I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, Minister Roland. I would now like to ask the chairperson of the committee that reviewed the bill, Accountability and Oversight, Mr. Lafferty.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight reviewed Bill 9, Write-off of Debts Act, 2007-2008, at a meeting on June 8, 2007. Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 9 to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the whole.

This concludes the committee's general comments on Bill 9. Individual Members may have comments or questions as we proceed. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 397

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

I would now like to ask Minister Roland if he would like to bring in witnesses.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Does the committee agree that we bring in witnesses?

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 397

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 397

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, committee. I would now ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses in. Mahsi.

Thank you. Minister Roland, for the record, would you please introduce your witnesses?

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, to my right is the secretary to the FMB, Mr. Mark Cleveland; and to my left is Louise Lavoie, assistant comptroller general.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, Minister Roland. Welcome, Mr. Cleveland and Ms. Lavoie, to the proceedings this afternoon. We will now open up Bill 9 to general comments from committee. Any general comments?

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Detail.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 397

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, committee. Before we consider the clause by clause, there are two clauses, we will defer that and to go the schedule. It's on page 3. We will deal with the schedule first. That's the debts written off, total $308,305.95.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 397

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.