Daryl Dolynny

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. Chair. I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly thank our Information and Privacy Commissioner for a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes for someone who, up until now, was in a part-time position. We know, moving forward, we will have the luxury of having someone in the office full time. I think this is going to be a huge step in terms of providing transparency and accountability to all stakeholders across the Northwest Territories. For that, I want to say I’m very pleased that we’re going to be looking at a full-time Privacy Commissioner in the near future.

One...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would again like to welcome the Minister and the department here today. Like my colleagues have already indicated, we’re very pleased with the final end product, but I think it’s an opportunity at this time to do a little bit of rear-view mirror analysis of how we got here today.

The Minister was right; this was a very unique and collaborative effort right from the get-go. I have to admit that there was a bit of concern in terms of how the GNWT’s close involvement with NEBS in the development of this bill may have compromised, to some degree, the objectivity of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Moses.

During the 2013 public consultation, stakeholders asked for a special provision that would allow victims of domestic violence to apply for early termination of a tenancy agreement. The department complied. Bill 42 relies on the definition of domestic violence provided in the Protection Against Family Violence Act and includes new provisions allowing a victim of family violence to apply for early termination. The application must be accompanied by a valid court document.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner cautioned that there may be significant...

I appreciate the Minister clarifying that. It is a bit confusing, especially when you have a whole suite of programs out there.

Nothing is mentioned on the website for the NWT Housing Corporation about having a repayment plan for arrears in place prior to further funding. Therefore, can the Minister elaborate, does the NWT Housing Corporation have any terms or conditions or prerequisites that must be in place prior to seeking any forgivable loans or other funding? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today in my Member’s statement I made reference to an NWT Housing Corporation Housing Choices funding program eligibility criteria. It seems that there are two sets of rules pertaining to this CARE funding program which deserve some scrutiny. Apparently if you live in a non-market community and you owe less than $5,000 in land lease or property tax arrears, you still qualify for up to $90,000 in forgivable loans. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Can the Minister explain to the House how is it you can owe money...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide an updated progress report to this Assembly on work done towards a comprehensive review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories undertake a review of all previous recommendations made regarding proposed revisions to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and include in the progress report a status report on how the committee’s recommendations are being addressed. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to welcome the Minister and the department here today. This is a perfect example where government works well and works right and understands the needs of its people. As someone who has practiced in the area of health care most of my adult life in the Northwest Territories, I have had the pleasure of working independently and now as a legislator on a number of acts pertaining to the health profession. So, when I saw this come through, as an MLA I was very impressed and very thankful to be able to put my hands on it as a committee member and work in conjunction...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a three-page document, entitled “Micro-brewery Taxation Models.” My office has compiled a complete regime of micro-brewery taxation models in Canada and I’ll be speaking to this on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess that’s one way of doing it. My question was for all communities. Again, when we’re dealing with this, I want to make sure that the department had a plan in place for looking at repayment for any member of our Housing Corporation before we’re going to be providing further funding. Again, if I may add, Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence, is this constitutionally sound the way we have it set up? Thank you.