This is page numbers 5087 - 5122 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 housing.

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Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question 54-19(2) asked by the Member for Nunakput on November 3rd, 2022, to the Minister of Finance regarding carbon tax on the cost of living.

I would like to advise, it is estimated that Northwest Territories households will spend, on. Average $400 in direct carbon tax on heat in 2023-2024. Heating fuel needs vary widely across the territory, and the amount of carbon tax paid on heat will be significantly higher than $400 for households in some communities and significantly lower for households in other communities. We also estimate that NWT households will see increases to other costs because of the impacts of the carbon tax on businesses and municipalities. NWT households are estimated to spend, on average, $272 in indirect carbon tax in 2023-2024.

This is an average total cost of $672 across the territory, with an average of $899 for the Nunakput communities. It is difficult to project over time the exact cost per household, per community, of the carbon tax with any accuracy. This is because we do not know how households and businesses will respond to increases in the carbon tax rate. The extent to which businesses pass on the carbon tax to their customers, and the extent to which households change their spending patterns and reduce their heating fuel use (through conservation efforts, switching to alternative heating sources, or by heavily insulating their existing homes) is unknown.

It is likely, however, that the cost to households will increase largely in step with annual increases to the carbon tax rate. If we assume that between 2023 and 2030 the patterns of household spending and fuel usage remain unchanged, and that the response of businesses and municipalities to carbon tax remains unchanged, then we estimate the following: NWT households will spend, on average, $1,050 in direct carbon tax on heat by 2030-2031, and will spend, on average, $711 in indirect carbon tax by 2030-2031. These costs will vary by community. Again, these estimates assume households and businesses do not significantly change their expenditure patterns.

Based on internal calculations, the impact of higher home heating costs on Northwest Territories' households will be heating bills that are, on average, $400 higher in 2023, and $1,050 higher in 2030 than they were in 2022. This is the direct impact of the carbon tax on heat. The impact of higher prices for goods and services resulting from businesses and municipalities passing on the carbon tax to households is estimated to be, on average, an additional $272 in 2023, and $711 in 2030. This is the "indirect" impact of the carbon tax. Consistent with the information provided to standing committee, a regional Cost of Living Offset, or COLO, would address the fact that heating fuel needs vary across the NWT, and would recognize and alleviate the extra financial pressure facing some Nunakput communities.

A regional COLO would separate communities into three geographic zone based on households' average annual heating fuel. Using each zone's population and household heating fuel use, the regional COLO amounts for each individual would increase with carbon tax rate increase. Later, at the appropriate time, I will table a document with supplemental table and chart information to support this response. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Information for Return to Written Question 49-19(2), Three Year Turnover Rates of Child and Youth Counselors by Region; and, Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1159-19(2), Mental Health and Suicide. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Additional Information for the Return to Written Question 54-19(2), Carbon Tax and the Cost of Living. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Information for Return to Written Question 52-19(2), Settlement Maintainer Training Program; and Information for Return to Written Question 53-19(2), Northwest Territories Power Corporation to Facilitate Alternative Energy. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Colleagues, pursuant to section 40.23(1) of the Public Service Act, I wish to table the 2021-2022 Annual Report of the Equal Pay Commissioner for the Northwest Territories.

Pursuant to section 23 of the Official Languages Act, I hereby table the Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2021-2022.

Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 23, 29, Minister's Statement 264-19(2), Tabled Document 681-19(2), Tabled Document 694-19(2), with Member for Deh Cho in the chair.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Kam Lake.

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

Page 5104

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I ask that the chair rise and report progress.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

There's a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? A resounding 'yea'. All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress. Mahsi.

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

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

May I please have the report of Committee of the Whole. Member for Deh Cho.

Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Report Of Committee Of The Whole

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Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Bill 23, Bill 29, Minister's Statement 624-19(2), Tabled Document 681-19(2), and Tabled Document 694-19(2), and would like to report progress. And, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Mahsi.

Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Report Of Committee Of The Whole

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Do we have a seconder? Member for Nunakput. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Orders Of The Day
Orders Of The Day

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Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

Orders of the day for Wednesday, February 8th, 2023, 1:30 p.m.

  1. Prayer
  2. Budget Address
  3. Ministers' Statements
  4. Members' Statements
  5. Returns to Oral Questions
  • Oral Question 1188-19(2), Memorandumof Understanding with the Canadian Red Cross
  1. Acknowledgements
  2. Oral Questions
  3. Written Questions
  4. Returns to Written Questions
  5. Replies to Commissioner's Address
  6. Petitions
  7. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
  8. Reports of Standing and Special Committees
  9. Tabling of Documents
  10. Notices of Motion
  11. Motions
  12. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
  13. First Reading of Bills
  14. Second Reading of Bills
  • Bill 64, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 3
  1. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
  • Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act
  • Bill 29, Resource Royalty Information Disclosure Statute Amendment Act
  • Minster's Statement 264-19(2), Response to the NWT Chief Coroner's Report on Suicide Report of Committee of the Whole
  • Tabled Document 681-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 26-19(2): Report on the Child and Family Services Act - Lifting Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together
  • Tabled Document 694-19(2): Northwest Territories Coroner Service 2021-2022 Early Release of Data
  1. Report of Committee of the Whole
  2. Third Reading of Bills
  3. Orders of the Day

Orders Of The Day
Orders Of The Day

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, February 8th, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 4:21 p.m.