Bob McLeod

On the basis of the final report, the three Premiers decided not to pursue it at that time because it recognizes that the northern residents deduction reduces individual taxable income but also decreases the amount of tax that we collect. So, I think it would be something that if this Assembly felt it was important and that it would benefit other high income residents, northern residents, I suggest it would be put forward as part of the transition planning. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On June 26 and 27, 2012, a Northern Premiers Forum was held in Iqaluit where northern Premiers called on the federal government to increase the northern residents deduction and index it against the cost of living in the territories to help ensure that taxpayers in northern Canada pay a similar proportion of their income in federal tax as taxpayers in southern Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this final opportunity to welcome Members back to the Legislative Assembly. This will be the last sitting of the 17th Legislative Assembly, and while our time together will soon be drawing to a close, the work that we began here does not end.

The successes we have achieved and the plans and strategies we have put into action – all of which depended on the input and support of Members – will continue, helping to shape the future of this territory according to the vision and priorities we first set out four years ago.

The 17th Legislative Assembly and Government...

As I indicated, the Tax Collection Agreement between the Northwest Territories and Canada requires that both jurisdictions use the same definition of taxable income. So, a northern residents deduction increase would reduce federal and territorial personal income tax revenues. For example, in 2008 with the increase of the NRD to the maximum deduction at $6,022.50, the cost to the GNWT is about $800,000.

We are prepared, if this Assembly supports this, to make it part of the transitional process and also to write to the federal government, recognizing that they are in the middle of an election...

The northern Premiers’ chair wrote to the three territorial Finance Ministers requesting that the Finance Ministers work together to develop an approach and a rationale for engaging the federal government to seek an increase in the northern residents deduction. They asked for a progress report by October 31, 2012, and a final report by January 31, 2013. So on October 31, 2012, on behalf of the three territorial Finance Ministers, Nunavut’s Finance Minister provided the northern Premiers with a report and a possible work plan. The report noted that increasing the northern residents deduction...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to recognize my wife, Melody McLeod, the other half the McLeod government, and also two constituents, Jugjit More-Curran and John Curran. Welcome to the Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to state that this is not a point of privilege. Several Members have pointed to the lack of communication; there’s notification. I have a copy of a letter that was sent August 31, 2015, advising committee of exactly that. The MLA for Range Lake referenced that in his notes, and a fundamental issue is how does government react in an emergency situation? We’ve known that we’ve been in drought conditions for four years, and everybody refers to how we did it last year. Well, the drought is still there, so the expectation is that we use the same process.

Now there are...

Mr. Speaker, this government understands that the protection of the land, water and environment matters to Northerners. It matters to us too.

Sustainable responsible development has always been a priority for our government. As part of devolution, we committed to improving and strengthening the way we manage development in the Northwest Territories, to ensure that it reflects northern values and priorities while providing for the creation of jobs and economic opportunities through responsible sustainable development.

We already have a strong system based on federal and territorial law and...

All of the rates that are approved have to go through the PUB process.

I’m not sure where he’s getting his numbers from but my understanding is it’s only a difference of one or two cents.