This is page numbers 4075 – 4134 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th 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.

Topics

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thanks to the Minister. That sounds good. This is my last question on these pages. The New Deal taxation revenue program, I just don’t recall what that’s about. If I can just get a quick refresher on what that fund is all about.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Director Schauerte.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Schauerte

The tax notices that are issued to community governments that are considered in the general taxation area, the Department of Finance collects that taxation revenue on behalf of community governments, and through this grant program the money is returned back to community governments for their use. At this point, within the communities within the general taxation area there are very, very few opportunities for these community governments to become taxation authorities themselves, so there’s economies of scale that play here in terms of being the collection agency and then returning the money to the

community government for their use for community government operations.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

I think I followed most of that. Is it easy to define the general taxation area?

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Schauerte

The general taxation area includes all areas with the exception of Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, Norman Wells, Inuvik and Fort Simpson.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Schauerte. Page 6-41, activity summary, regional operations, grants and contributions, $75.336 million.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Page 6-42, information item, regional operations, active positions. Questions?

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Page 6-44, information item, work performed on behalf of others and, as well, 6-45, information item, work performed on behalf of others, $330,000. Mr. Dolynny.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a point of clarification on 6-45, under the term gas tax we see a number of entries in the past, most recent revised estimates, a little over $17 million but nothing in the 2014-15. Is this reallocated somewhere or is this part of some changes with devolution?

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister McLeod.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The reason it’s not showing any allocation there is because we haven’t signed the new agreement yet. We’re hoping to have the new agreement signed by the end of March.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

If that’s indeed the case, what impact will this have on the overall main estimates? I mean, this is a fairly large chunk of money, $17 million. Is this captured in the overall numbers that we’re continuously hearing about from the Minister of Finance about a shortfall and everything? Is this factored in?

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I don’t think this money is factored in. It’s $15 million a year that they’ve been getting for the last number of years and it’s indexed this year. Community governments all know that this is probably the money that they’re getting because we do put out a MACA update in the fall time to give the communities an idea of what they may be getting, but we always put a disclaimer on there, “subject to Legislative Assembly approval,” so that helps with their planning purposes. Most of the community governments know that they’re getting this allocation, and I don’t believe it’s factored in here at all.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Would we consider this more like a flow-through amount and it’s just indexed?

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, the Member is correct.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Minister McLeod. I’m seeing a nod from the Minister of Finance as well. Mr. Dolynny.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

No further questions, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Next on my list I have Mr. Bromley. Do you have questions on this page?

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thanks, Mr. Chair, just briefly. How long is the agreement typically for the gas tax that we’re negotiating? Thank you.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister McLeod.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The new Gas Tax Agreement is going to be for the next 10 years. I believe it’s indexed at 2 percent every year starting in 2014-15. Thank you.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Committee, we’re on page 6-45, information item, work performed on behalf of others, $330,000.

Committee Motion 20-17(5): Conclusion Of Transportation Department Summary, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.