Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate Ms. Bisaro for bringing this motion forward. To not repeat many of the concerns that she has, as well as other committee members shared, this was a very problematic issue for the standing committee, which really has a very legitimate mandate to do this type of oversight. We are saddled with the ability to review all the policymaking and program on languages, so committee was very concerned. I think that was reflected in our report, almost to the point where there was a disregard for the committee in trying to get a firm answer with respect to the 2009 review...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s still not clear here. I am led to believe, from what we’ve heard today and what we hear from yesterday, is that the $24 rate per day has not changed for Yellowknife since 1996. Again, if we were just to apply simple math of 1.83 percent compounded annually over the 19-year period, that would be a 41.25 percent increase in that rate, or should be, applied to that rate, so that at a minimum, that number should be at least $33.90 per day.

Would the Minister at least consider raising the per diem rate for Yellowknife for foster families to at least $33.90 per day?

Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure if I got an answer to the standards of care of delivering foster care. I’ll maybe ask that question another time.

I also noted in that 2014 Auditor General report there was a chronic shortage of foster care families, and this shortage continues today. Maybe the shortage is somehow financially linked. Again, we’ve heard from the Minister that the rates have changed from 2007.

Can the Minister indicate where is the rate for Yellowknife? It was at $24. Where is the rate today?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we draw to a close another Legislative session, through you, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to thank all the dedicated people who work behind the scenes at the Legislative Assembly who support the Members and the Ministers to do our day-to-day jobs. Without them democracy would be definitely crippled.

I’d like to thank all the Pages here and all the Pages during this session. Thank you for keeping us hydrated. Without you these days and nights would have been a bit longer and a bit more thirsty. So, thank you very much and good job passing those notes...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Nadli.

In 2000 a Special Committee on the Review of the Official Languages Act, SCROLA, was established by the Legislative Assembly to undertake a comprehensive review of the Official Languages Act.

As a result of this review, the 14th Legislative Assembly amended the act in 2003, clearly identifying Chipewyan, Cree, English, French, Gwich’in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tlicho as the official languages of the Northwest Territories. These amendments changed the roles of the Minister responsible for Official Languages...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As of December 2014, the GNWT updated their tax regime to a three-tiered system. This was allegedly to match the start of production of the new brewery. However, after speaking to the manufacturers myself, they feel that the 2,500 hectolitre maximum threshold would be met in no time and just when this company is considering market penetration to the South.

Can the Minister indicate how can our local manufacturer, a micro-brewery, expect to be competitive with southern micro-brewery producers when we have the highest energy costs of production in Canada, we have high...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I raised the concern of the overbearing micro-brewery tax system being imposed on our brew pub manufacturing starting up in Yellowknife. When one should be supporting this entrepreneurial start-up business, the GNWT, even by cutting its rate by half, still has one of the highest micro-brewery sin taxes in all of Canada. Sadly, when production increases, many fear with the tax regime being proposed, this will do very little to enhance the true potential of this new industry.

I bud my questions today for the wiser Minister of Finance. There is no denying the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m honoured to second the motion today. As you’ve heard from the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake and his passion, many of us are very thankful that he spends a considerable amount of time doing a lot of research for a motion such of this.

The mover, Mr. Moses, has been a staunch advocate for issues surrounding coroner’s reports. I know he spends many hours reviewing these reports for recommendations, trends and insights and how to make NWT a better and safer place. So when the Member brought forward this motion for committee review, I was taken aback on the incredible...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very much aware of the social impact of alcohol in the Northwest Territories. Sitting on the standing committee, I see all too well all the issues around the Northwest Territories. I believe that this is not impeding this. We’re talking about an industry. Cleary, this government has an opportunity to do the right thing and to re-evaluate this tax regime on micro-brewery manufacturing in the Northwest Territories.

Will the Minister commit to re-examining this tax regime and to bring our tax system with what is considered standard best practice for this type of small...

A very thorough response, but again, we’re trying to start a start-up company. While the admitted markup for beer produced in the NWT has been substantially reduced, as we indicated, it still stands out in significant contrast to lower rates for micro-breweries in every other Canadian jurisdiction.

Can the Minister indicate, what is the competitive advantage of having the highest micro-brewery tax rate in the country while trying to encourage business manufacturing, jobs, tourism potential and attracting what he has proposed, a 2,000 population growth? Thank you.