Thank you. Member for Hay River South.
Debates of March 7th, 2022
This is page numbers 3793 - 3836 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 know.
Topics
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3804
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3804
Rocky Simpson Hay River South
Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, one of the big issues I guess when you look at the, say, highway -- Highway 1 and then where it connects with Highway 3 coming into Yellowknife is that there's a lot of traffic on that highway and, you know, there's accidents that occur. I know there's been, you know, fuel trucks that have went over here in the last -- that last little while and, you know -- you know, there's been other accidents as well.
One of the things that would really help, I guess, in -- you know, and provide for a quicker service is cell service along that route. Is there any indication when that might happen, or is there any talk with other departments when we could see cell service, you know, all the way from -- when you enter the Northwest Territories right to Yellowknife? 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 3804
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3804
Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you. I think the Member should be asking that question to Finance about cell service and that. It's not something that Municipal and Community Affairs looks after. So I know the Member is trying to do ground ambulance and cell service, but I mean that's the Department of Finance. 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 3804
The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you. Are there any further questions under public safety? Member for Frame Lake.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3804
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. So on the 9-1-1 program, what is the extra $540,000 actually for in 2022-2023? Thanks, 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 3804
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3805
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 7th, 2022
Page 3805
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3805
Gareau
Thank you. That funding is for relief positions as well as costs related to things like standby, shift premiums, overtime, for the existing 9-1-1 staff as well as the additional relief staff positions. 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 3805
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3805
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. So I guess I don't see it anywhere in here, unless I missed it somewhere, but what are the annual -- like, how much do we take in on an annual basis with 9-1-1 from the fees that are collected? Say over the last couple of years, what's the ballpark figure? That's, 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 3805
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3805
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3805
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3805
Gareau
Thank you. The fees are approximately $900,000. It might be $930,000 annually for the 9-1-1 levy. 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 3805
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3805
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. Wow, we can't continue to run this at a deficit. I don't have the tell the Minister that. But, you know, the way that this was set up -- and I was in the last Assembly so was the Minister -- was that we would run this for a few years, put a cap on the fees, but now is the time to look at this and, you know, I think we're going to need to increase the fees. That was always the objective of this. The taxpayers should not be covering the cost of 9-1-1. It was to be a user pay system. And so when is that going to happen? And thanks, 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 3805
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3805
Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you. I'll start, and then I'll turn to the deputy minister. Yeah, I agree with the Member. We have to find the money. Basically, it's a million within that takes away from our other program areas and that there. But when we will be coming back to committee with a proposal on that, I'll turn that to the deputy minister. 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 3805
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3805
Gareau
Thank you. Work is underway right now to look at different options to increase the levy. The levy is in place until November 2022. But work is underway looking at different options as well as better understanding some of the cost drivers of the program, and our intent would be to develop a proposal for review during the business planning process. 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 3805
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3805
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Okay, thanks, Madam Chair. So does a fee increase require CRTC approval? Thanks.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 3805