This is page numbers 2333 – 2388 of the Hansard for the 17th 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 community.

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Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This seems to be a bit of a departure from what we tend to go with. When Members ask questions, most of the Ministers thus far have worked through Members and their particular questions. Now we have one saying that the rest of the comments I’m going to respond to when we get to the page. Now do we have to prompt the Minister? Is he going to answer all of our questions? Again, it seems to be a bit of a departure from what we’ve been doing.

As a matter of fact, we’ve gone through seven, eight budgets. Every one of those, the Ministers have gone through a similar process. I would think it would only seem appropriate to go through a similar process as well. I’m fine with changing the way we do things, but how are some of our questions going to be answered? These are opening comments. They come with questions. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins, it is the Chair’s purview that the Minister has the right to respond in a way and means he sees fit. He did make a commitment that he will deal with some of those general replies

within the details. We’ll hope that the Minister holds true to that promise. If not, I am sure the Members will cue the Minister if need be. With that said, I appreciate the comments, Mr. Hawkins, but duly noted.

Committee, before we commence with detail here, we are actually going to take a very short recess. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Welcome back, committee. Committee, we’re on Municipal and Community Affairs, 6-7, we’re going to defer the operations expenditure summary to the end. So I’ll ask people to turn their pages to 6-8, Municipal and Community Affairs, information item, infrastructure investment summary. Any questions?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, committee. 6-9, Municipal and Community Affairs, information item, revenue summary. Mr. Hawkins.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under general lottery licence there seems to be a bit of a fluctuation. Can the Minister provide an answer as to why?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister McLeod.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’ll have Mr. Schauerte respond to that.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Schauerte.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Schauerte

In ‘12-13 the department committed to a revenue review. We wanted to look at the actual revenues as opposed to projections that have been historically included in our main estimates. As a result of the review, the revenues that are projected for the ‘13-14 Main Estimates are in line with actual business operations.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Schauerte. Mr. Hawkins.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

So in the revenue review, is there an overestimate of money or is the money going elsewhere? I’m just trying to get a sense of the error in the money or the extra anticipated revenue.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

March 4th, 2013

Schauerte

The revenue that’s represented will be actual revenues that we’re anticipating collecting. So these will be an actual net decrease to revenues for ‘13-14.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

So is the policy not to collect as much revenue off this particular fund? Basically, I assume we’re collecting our revenue lottery commission of some sort, if that’s correct, and if that is what is the percentage or what is the revenue based on in the value of the number?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Schauerte

Can I just confirm, is he asking about lottery licence revenues?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Yes, I am.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Schauerte

The department has seen a downturn in the number of lottery licence applications that have been sent to our department. At the same time, some community governments have agreements to operate lotteries on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, which is where the lottery revenues are collected. I believe that its 12 communities in the Northwest Territories that have this arrangement.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

So, other than the anomaly of the downturn in the market, is there a fee structure that’s changed that’s coming into the GNWT as far as lottery licence concern is? So would the downturn alone explain the drop from $75,000 in the last business cycle to an anticipated $50,000 in this one?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Schauerte

Yes, that’s correct. There has not been a course point increase to the lottery licence fees.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

The next particular question I have is about quarry fees, if we can get an explanation. I know what the quarry is and I know what a fee is. Can I get some explanation as to what type of fees are driving out of this?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister McLeod.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Chair, we don’t have the information with us, but I will commit to Member Hawkins that we’ll gather the information and pass that on to him and committee.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you and I happily take that. Under real estate agents and sales persons, we have anticipated of $3,000, $5,000 last cycle, $2,000 the year before. Can I get an understanding exactly how this fee cycle works and why it’s gone up from $2,000 to $5,000 and then down to $3,000? Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you. There’s a slight reduction in the amount of operating sales staff in this industry and that has led to the decreased revenue.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you. When was the last time real estate agents and sales persons’ revenue fee were reviewed?