Debates of March 4th, 2014

This is page numbers 4135 – 4182 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

Oral Questions
Prayer
Birthday Wishes For Mary Kendi
Reduction Of Regulatory Burdens And Red Tape
Mental Health Services In Fort Liard
Appreciation To The “odd Squad” For Combating High Risk Behaviours
Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting
Protection Of Land And Water In The Sahtu Region
Elimination Of Poverty Traps
Radon Gas Exposure
Inclusive Schooling Funding Formula
GNWT Employment Opportunities
Income Support Guidelines
Mental Health Services In Fort Liard
Radon Gas Exposure
Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade
Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting
Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies
Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry
GNWT Employment Opportunities
Review Of Inclusive Schooling
Louis Cardinal Ferry Hours Of Operation
Tabled Document 55-17(5): Waste Reduction And Recovery Program 2012-2013 Annual Report
Tabled Document 56-17(5): 2013 Annual Report Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board
Tabled Document 57-17(5): Statistics Canada – Smoking Survey Excerpt From 2011 And 2012
Tabled Document 58-17(5): Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – 2014: Child And Family Services – Department Of Health And Social Services And Health And Social Services Authorities
Expansion Of Policing And Nursing Services
Bill 18: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Conclusion Of Public Works And Services Department Summary
Conclusion Of Executive Department Summary
Conclusion Of Legislative Assembly Department Summary
Concurrence Of Tabled Document 22-17(5), NWT Main Estimates 2014-2015
Report of Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day

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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you, director. Mr. Dolynny.

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

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

No, thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chair and Minister.

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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you, committee. We’re on page 13-9, information item, revenue summary. Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Mr. Chair, I want to ask about the Environment Fund net revenue. It’s showing $150,000. Is this a new fund? Okay, 2013-14 revised estimates isn’t showing any. Can I get maybe a brief description on as to this fund and this purpose and how it’s being used, who pays into the fund? I know if a company has been charged and convicted of a violation of environmental issues that they pay into the Environment Fund. Is that correct? 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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Director Magrum.

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

Magrum

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If I can refer the Member to page 13-40, which is the information item for the Environment Fund, the revenue item is the current year’s surplus for the 2014-15 Main Estimates. The Environment Fund consists of our Beverage Container Program, the Milk Container Program, the Single Use Retail Bag Environmental Program and we collect fees from soft drink companies, juice companies and then the public returns their empty containers to recycling depots, and this amount of money is the Environment Fund. 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,Ms. Magrum. Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you. I certainly appreciate the clarification on this. I do want to ask the question then, I’m not too sure if I’m on the right page with this, in regard to companies that are charged and convicted of any type of environmental violation. Is there a fund that they pay into that is used to deal with this type of issue and cleanup and remediation? 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. Yakeleya. Minister Miltenberger.

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

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There’s not a fund that I’m aware of. If they are charged and found guilty, in all probability there would be a fine and they would be tasked with doing the remediation. We also have our own security deposits that we have for specific projects. But there’s no fund, as far as I’m aware, that we pay into like the one we do here that we’re talking about right now. 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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Minister. I see that in another avenue here. Okay, time is up.

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. Yakeleya. Committee, we’re on 3-19, information item, revenue 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. Page 13-10, information item, active position 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, 13-13, activity summary, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, $11.369 million. Does committee agree?

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. Page 13-14, activity summary, corporate management, grants and contributions, $965,000. Mr. Bromley.

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple of quick ones here. I see the IRMA program has ended and I know that was an important contribution to some of our Aboriginal communities. Is there a replacement? I believe that those were federal dollars. Is there anything being put in place in that stead?

And I’ll just ask my other one here. I want a bit of an explanation of the core funding for the NWT Water Board. How is that amount derived and does it include all costs like for the three-person little subcommittees that we’re planning on having for project-specific things and so on? 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. Bromley. Minister Miltenberger.

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

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are taking over the IRMA program. It has been renamed, we find it on 13-34, I believe, when we get to it and its worth about $1.6 million.

In regards to the NWT Water Board I’ll ask Ms. Magrum if she wants to provide that information. 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, Minister Miltenberger. Ms. Magrum.

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

Magrum

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The amount for the NWT Water Board was, again, an average amount that we received from AANDC over the last few years and it does include four positions and the operational costs required for the Water Board. 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, Ms. Magrum. Mr. Bromley.