Caroline Cochrane
Range Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 8)

The CTV Act that we're looking at changing will be for the hotel tax levy and for the energy retrofits that the Municipality of Yellowknife wanted to push forward. So I do appreciate the words of the honourable MLA that's stating that he doesn't project it would be taking long with standing committee. I'm not sure if he represents the voice of all the standing committee in the House here today, but if I could get that in writing that they have no issues, that they don't need to review it, that it can go as stated, then I will take that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 8)

As stated at the beginning, I didn't realize that changing legislation takes as long as it does take. I often wish I could get them all off of my desk, but I realize it takes time. We are on a timeline that was submitted a year ago. We are on the timeline that was submitted just before the sitting. The proposal will be put in, in March. I can't move it any faster than the process takes, so the bill will be introduced to standing committee in May/June, and hopefully standing committee won't take as long and we will be able to get that off and rolling.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 8)

Mr. Speaker, today I rise as the Minister responsible for Sport to congratulate three prominent athletes, all with ties to the Northwest Territories, who are competing for Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. On behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories and all of our residents, I am proud to speak today about Brendan Green, Jesse Cockney, and Kevin Koe.

Hay River’s Brendan Green will represent Canada in men’s biathlon events. Brendan was a member of Team NWT at the Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife in 1998 and in Whitehorse in 2000. He has competed in the Canada...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 8)

I do worry a little bit about the Municipality of Yellowknife being able to access the hotel tax levy, although I must state that they have never had it before. My understanding in working with the Minister of Infrastructure is that there was funding last year provided for tourism through the Northern Frontier Visitors Association. That funding actually expires at the end of this year, but those are normal contracting procedures, that funding expires at the end of a year or two years or three years, and they rewrite it.

My understanding at this point is that that money that was provided to the...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am a bit confused with the question, however, because none of the municipalities have actually approached me as the Minister and asked me to help coordinate their work. If the municipalities do approach me, my job is to support the municipalities. If the municipalities approach me and ask for support, we will do whatever we can to support them. Thank you. Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am trying to move it as quickly as possible. I haven't been here for 10 years. So I don't know what happened 10 years ago, but I do know that we've been working at it hard. I don't trust that 10 years ago the stories that were put out there are the same as today. For example, when we talked to the Tourism Association, we learned that tour packages have already been sold for this year. That impacts the bill and the timing of this. So there were considerations. We had to go out for stakeholder feedback, and so I am really appreciative of the department for actually...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have come to learn that change in legislation does take a little bit more time than I would like to think it does, so it takes a lot of stakeholder engagement, a lot of writing, et cetera. What progress have we made? We have actually met with the six tax-based municipalities that would be affected by the CTV Act to look at things like the energy retrofits. We've also talked about the hotel tax levy with them. On the note of the hotel tax levy, we've had to meet with other stakeholders, so we have met with the Northwest Territories and the Regional Chamber of Commerce...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a Range Lake constituent. We have an agreement because I have butchered his name too many times. David W. is in the audience, and I welcome him here. I would also, as the Minister for the Status of Women, want to recognize Commissioner Margaret Thom, one of my favourite people, great leader of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 5)

As a Minister, I am committed to addressing the wait list of people waiting for housing. It's a priority of my own. It's also a priority for all of the MLAs who have made a motion in the House to address 250 homes taking them out of core need; and so I am working diligently at meeting that figure and exceeding it is my goal. So, we have quite a few. Currently, and they remain in force, we have a CARE major program that gives up to $100,000 a year. We have a CARE minor program that gives up to $10,000 a year. We have a SAFE program that gives up to $10,000 a year, and with the SAFE program, you...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Evictions are not an easy thing. When I first came in, my objective was to be able to provide people with the tools so that they could obtain, maintain, and retain their housing. Eviction does not fit within any of those priorities of my own. It is a last resort. It has always been a last resort for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. The process we go through is, first of all, the local housing organizations work closely with the tenants to try to get them to deal with their arrears and set up a repayment plan. If that follows through, then the process is...