This is page numbers 1563 - 1592 of the Hansard for the 19th 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 work.

Topics

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I am willing to work with them. There is already a lot of work going on between the Housing Corporation and ECE to try to figure out how can we leverage the journeypersons who work at the Housing Corporation with the LHOs across the territory. That type of work is ongoing. I'm not sure about mandating. I think that we could probably get there by cooperating. We can use a carrot instead of a stick in this situation.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. One of the other ways that we presently attract apprentices and encourage our journeypersons to take on apprentices is there is a subsidy for the first couple of years of any apprenticeship. That allows or encourages a tradesperson to take on an apprentice. However, I have heard from a number of constituents that, as that subsidy expires and it's not for their entire term, they struggle to keep on those apprentices. Then sometimes, people do not finish their ticket. Is the Minister willing to look into increasing the amount and length that we subsidize apprentices for? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Absolutely. I will look into that. The last time that subsidy program was updated was 2018, and that was done in consultation with the ATOC Board. We heard people around the territory, and we tried to think about how we can take this pot of money that we have, that would only cover about a quarter of what we would need it to if we wanted to fund everyone. The decision was made to spread it out over the early years. That being said, I am aware that there is a desire to change that and possibly expand it, so I am more than happy to look into that and hopefully expand this program in the future. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Members, the time for oral questions has concluded. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, reports of standing and special committees. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Madam Speaker, I wish to table the following document: "Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021." Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, motions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to move the motion for the establishment of a special committee on reconciliation and Indigenous affairs.

WHEREAS the Members of the 19th Legislative Assembly agreed upon a priority to settle and implement treaty, land, resources, and self-government agreements;

AND WHEREAS the Members of the 19th Legislative Assembly also agreed upon a priority to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

AND WHEREAS the Members of the 19th Legislative Assembly believe that a special committee could seek and encourage discussions and recommendations on the opportunities and challenges in meeting these priorities;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that, pursuant to Rule 92(1), the Legislative Assembly hereby establish a Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs;

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be named to the special committee:

  • Ms. Lesa Semmler, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes;
  • Mr. Steve Norn, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh;
  • Mr. Rylund Johnson, the Member for Yellowknife North;
  • The honourable R. J. Simpson, the Member for Hay River North; and
  • The honourable Caroline Wawzonek, the Member for Yellowknife south;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs is an ex-officio non-voting Member of the committee:

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs be established by the terms of reference identified as Tabled Document 211-19(2);

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs table its final report no later than the first day of the final sitting of the 19th Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am happy to move this motion. Throughout Assemblies, special committees are established, and they really do show the priorities of that group. I believe this committee has lots of work to do in this area, and I believe a committee comprised both of Regular Members and Cabinet can truly move this forward as a priority of this House. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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

---Carried

Motions. Item 17, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Item 18, first reading of bills. Minister of Justice.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Corrections Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

The motion is in order and is non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 17 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Minister of Justice.

Bill 18: An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act
First Reading Of Bills

November 2nd, 2020

Page 1584

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

The motion is in order and is non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 18 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

The motion is in order and is non-debatable. All those in favour? Opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 19 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
Second Reading Of Bills

Page 1584

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member from Hay River North, that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the second time. The bill reduces the small business tax rate from 4 percent to 2 percent effective January 1, 2020. It also makes retroactive amendments to harmonize the Northwest Territories tax regime with the federal system. Those amendments do two things: ensure that split income received by a senior is factored into the determination of their Territorial Age Credit; and allow more pension credit for veterans. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
Second Reading Of Bills

Page 1584

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Member for Frame Lake.

Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
Second Reading Of Bills

Page 1584

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Madame la Presidente. I wish to speak to this bill. The main purpose, as I can see, is to reduce the small business tax rate from 4 percent to 2 percent, and I'm sure the Minister of Finance will explain at some point that this is to bring our small business tax rates in line with some of the other jurisdictions in Canada. I am not opposed in principle to reducing taxes, but I think we need to look at the issue of tax fairness. This will result in our government losing some revenue, and I'd like to know how much. I think the public deserves to know that, as well.

I am mindful that the Minister of Finance gave a fiscal update about a week-and-a-half ago that, really, we're not in good shape, Madam Speaker, in terms of our finances, and this bill is not going to help that in any way. I would have much preferred an approach that would have been revenue-neutral so, if we're going to reduce taxes, then we have to find a way to replace that lost revenue.

I am on record supporting tax fairness rather than tax reductions, and I have suggested in the past many times that we need to look at ways to increase our revenues, and I think one of the ways that we need to look at increasing our revenues is by adding another tax bracket onto our personal income tax rates. We only have four; we're one of the few jurisdictions left in Canada that only has four income tax brackets. Alberta went to five in 2016. British Columbia went to five in 2014. New Brunswick went to six in 2015. Newfoundland and Labrador went to five in 2015. Nova Scotia went to five in 2010. Ontario went to five in 2014. Yukon went to five in 2015. Even the federal government went to five in 2016.

I'm all about tax fairness, Madam Speaker, and I think we need to find a way to replace this revenue. There is an opportunity to do so by looking at increasing our personal income tax brackets by adding one. I think it's only fair that we all find ways to contribute, especially during the pandemic. One way to do that is to add another high-income tax bracket to replace the lost revenue from this reduction in small business tax. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
Second Reading Of Bills

Page 1585

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

To the principle of the bill. Member for Hay River North.

Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
Second Reading Of Bills

Page 1585

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to second this bill. There was a time in this Assembly when the idea of reducing taxes on small business couldn't even be discussed. Not this current Assembly, but the previous one I was in. We heard today that small businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, disproportionately perhaps. This is a way that we can help support them. Revenues are important. Revenues in the GNWT, of course, are important. However, I've had small businesses say to me that, "If I could have a bit of a tax break, I would be able to hire that apprentice." We need to think beyond just the GNWT and what our needs are. We need to think about the people and the businesses of the territory. I look forward to the debates on this going forward. Again, I'm happy to be part of this, and I think it's a great move for the territory. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
Second Reading Of Bills

Page 1585

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the principle of the bill. Member for Yellowknife North.