Debates of March 2nd, 2017

This is page numbers 2115 – 2164 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 information.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Progress Statement – Governance: Office Of The Auditor General Of Canada Performance Audit

Online Service Improvements

Pursuing An Agreement With The Federal Government On The Management Of Offshore Resources

Health And Social Services System Transformation Implementation

Snow King Winter Festival

Chief Julian Yendo School Annual Trip To Alberta

GNWT Land Lease Rates

Diamond Mine Environmental Agreements

Community Support In Response To K’atlodeeche Tragedy

Deline Got’ine Library Proposal

Elders’ Residence For Tsiigehtchic

Indigenous Wellness And System Of Care

Health Information Act Implementation

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Elders’ Residence For Tsiigehtchic

Yellowknife Airport Improvement Plan

Diamond Mine Environmental Agreements

New Generators For Yellowknife Power Plant

GNWT Land Lease Rates

Junior Kindergarten Funding

Deline Got'ine Library Proposal

Health Information Act Implementation

New Generators For Yellowknife Power Plant

Diamond Mine Environmental Agreements

Return To Written Question 17-18(2): Impact Of Proposed Aurora College Program Changes

Return To Written Question 18-18(2): Instructional School Hours

Committee Report 8-18(2): Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 And 2015-2016 Annual Reports Of The Information And Privacy Commissioner Of The Northwest Territories

Motion To Receive Committee Report 8-18(2) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole

Tabled Document 311-18(2): Strategy For Revitalizing The Great Slave Lake Commercial Fishery - March 2017

Tabled Document 312-18(2): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 572-18 (2): Social Services Facilities In Downtown Yellowknife

Tabled Document 313-18(2): Letter From Giant Mine Oversight Board Dated February 28, 2017 Regarding Giant Mine Oversight Board Roll Over Provision

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Finance, Deferral Of Directorate Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Finance, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Finance

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 74-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Finance, Deferral Of Directorate Activity, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, and I do appreciate what Mr. Stewart is saying. I am familiar with the Income Tax Act amendments, and the numbers are moving out of legislation where they can be tweaked; but, you know, the other areas of tax are not moving in a similar direction, and I think my honourable friend the Member for Frame Lake has often raised the issue of creating a new tax bracket for the highest income earners. Those kinds of initiatives are somewhat inflexible using the current legislative process, and my fear is, if we wanted to move expediently on tax reform or tax improvements, we would have to go through the LP process, which can take a great deal of time. So how much time would it take to move all tax into regulation so we can have more flexibility to do that? Is that something the department has the capacity to do in the life of this government? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the department has the capacity to do the work. As for a timeline, I think we would have to have a look at it and see what it is exactly it encompasses, and then I think we will be in a better position to give a timeline as to how it would actually take to move from legislation to regulation. We have heard the Member, and we will go back and take a look at it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

That is a great review. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Finally, the mandate commitment to lower taxes on small businesses, how is the department doing with that? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we have heard the Member, and we have heard his concern. I have read his pamphlet, and it's not something that we are contemplating at this particular time. Maybe there will be opportunities in the future, but, as of right now, no, we are not contemplating that. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you. Does the Minister believe that he will get around to it by the end of the term? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we are developing a discussion paper. I know it is in the mandate that this is something that we have to have a look at by the end of the mandate of the 18th Legislative Assembly, so the commitment is there, and we are developing a discussion paper. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I look forward to the discussion paper. Nothing further, thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have three things I want to pursue here. Maybe I will start with the easiest. I guess I have been on record as raising this issue of the need to index our Northern Resident Tax Deduction. We have gotten an increase in the last federal budget, but I know the Minister had made a commitment to continue to pursue this issue of indexing it. I wonder if he could just give us a little bit of an update of where that work is at. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In my meeting with the federal Finance Minister, I did raise the concern of indexing it. We actually have not heard back from them yet, but I will make a commitment then to follow up on that because there are a number of questions we have for the federal Minister, and we have an FTP coming up. I think it's later on this year. I will try to make contact with them to see if there is any progress made on our request. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I think there would probably be -- I think I have raised this before -- greater strength in numbers, working with our colleagues in Yukon and Nunavut on this, as well. I am sure they share the same kind of concern, and I am sure we can work collectively, with them, to try to move that forward with the federal government. I see the Minister shaking his head, so I am not going to ask a question about it.

I did want to move on to the heritage fund on the next page. It's 142. I am glad to see that we continue to put some of our revenues in there. I just wonder whether there could be a separate page in the main that actually has a little bit more detail about the heritage fund. I don't even know how much is in the heritage fund right now, but maybe I will start with that. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, that information is available in public accounts, but, realizing that public accounts is a fairly lengthy document, I will make a commitment to the Member that we will look at including that number in our business plans and our main estimate document. I think that answers his first question. I am sure he has another one. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. The Minister is a good mind-reader today. How much is in the heritage fund now? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

$10.6 million as of December 1st.

Debates of March 2nd, 2017

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