This is page numbers 2019 - 2082 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 communities.

Topics

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2041

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll have Ms. Eleanor Young elaborate on the response. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2041

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister Young.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Young

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is the program we were referencing a little earlier. We were talking about our legislation work. This is the funding that's used to reimburse seniors and disabled in both tax-based and non-tax-based communities, and we are in the work, as Mr. Schauerte mentioned, of engaging with stakeholders, including seniors, to talk about changes to the program to make it more fair and equitable and consistent across all of our communities because we have heard concerns that it's not delivered the same way in all of our communities, and it causes a lot of confusion and frustration. That's part of the work that we're doing currently on changing that legislation. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Deputy Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

My one question I did have on this is: this seniors and disabled person's property tax relief, what age would I be eligible to qualify for a program such as this? Is it 60, 65? Sorry. I'm looking at her. She's pointing at herself. It made me laugh. That question's for the Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of MACA.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Sixty-five. You have a long way to go, Member.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Did you have any further questions, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Madam Chair. Sorry, Madam Primier, I tried. Can you just give me, also, an example, of what the parameters are for a disabled person, what are the parameters for that to qualify for that program? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will have Ms. Eleanor Young elaborate on the details of the qualifications for persons with disabilities, tax relief. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister Young.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Young

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is actually one of the big frustrations with the program is, currently, you have to provide some documentation through something like a doctor on an annual basis in order to be eligible for the program, so that is one of the areas where we are seeking to get something so it's not requiring an annual application process. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Deputy Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for that response. I couldn't imagine if I had to deal with something like that and have to constantly go through the whole red tape. I want to go back again about the senior citizens. I do have a couple of constituents that constantly have to deal with property taxes. I think that, if you are running a business or if you're paying taxes all your life, once you hit a certain age, I think you've paid the house, for lack of a better word, throughout your life. I think they've earned it. They've earned that right to get some of these tax breaks, and it goes to that mandate item. I think someone mentioned about aging in place, dignity for our senior citizens and our elders, our knowledge keepers. I just thought I'd make a comment, and I have no further 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

Page 2042

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Do we have any further questions or comments under regional operations? Member for Nunakput.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just for the recreation funding, I guess it's all in the children's, youth, regional sport, youth coordination programs. What are we doing in regards to doing something? Since COVID-19 started, are we doing anything different to give communities funding for recreation sport or sewing programs? I know that the federal government's really stepped up. Where did we step up into these categories for the communities? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. I think we have a whole, 349, yes. Okay. Minister for MACA.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. We did receive a contribution from the federal government for sport and recreation that was distributed to the sports organizations. I will have Ms. Eleanor Young elaborate on what we've been doing internally within our department. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister Young.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Young

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, in addition to the budget that you see in the main estimates here, in total, we also distributed just over $1.8 million in additional federal funding to support sport and recreation in the COVID environment, but in terms of what we've done differently, we have worked with communities to look at what kinds of programs can be offered safely in a COVID environment. We've also assisted communities in applying to have their facilities opened, reopened after COVID, so what they needed to put in place to properly put their safe restart program in place for their specific facilities, as well as working with the NWTAC, Association of Communities to share ideas about unique ways to do things in the COVID environment. Many folks will remember last spring, with jamborees, folks were sharing information on what could be done safely, how to use some of this money to operate jamborees or community events but do it in a COVID compliant way. That's where a lot of our staff's efforts had been focused to help communities to ensure that programs can continue to operate but be operated in a COVID safe manor. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Deputy Minister. Member for Nunakput.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just in regards to our youth contribution programs, basically the same line of questioning in regards to: what are we doing and what are we offering in the communities, and is that for the Inuvialuit? Us being in Nunakput, does it go through, do you deal with the community per se, or do you understand deal with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation in that with the funds? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of MACA.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2042

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. We've had a Beaufort-Delta sports distribution of federal funding that went out. I'm not too sure how the money was distributed throughout the communities. I'll have Ms. Eleanor Young elaborate. Thank you, Madam Chair.