Statements in Debates
Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of the cost of living in the Northwest Territories is one we realize needs to be addressed. That’s why it forms one of our strategic initiatives. As we proceed forward, we will be dealing with that on an ongoing basis. Once we have this committee set up, we will be working with that committee on an ongoing basis to keep that forward.
Is it a type of situation where we actually have to have the item on Orders of the Day? I think as we deal with the initiatives that lead into the budget, working with the committee will help keep that going.
Mr. Chairman, $2 million of that debt is in receivables. For the other information I’d have to go to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2007–2008, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2007–2008 fiscal year.
No, we do not owe the Nunavut government any money. There are arrangements within the Financial Administration Act, depending on which department. If it’s actually with Finance, we have some prescribed amounts we could use. With FMBS I’d have to go to Ms. LeClair for it.
Of the $12 million, approximately $6 million is billing to Nunavut. We have been working with Nunavut to try to come up with a satisfactory arrangement. For that detail I’ll get Ms. LeClair to give some more information.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 16, Write-off of Debts Act, 2008–2009, be read for the first time.
Mr. Chairman, the fact is that we have decided, at least at this stage, not to tack on an interest charge to the department or to the billing we’ve had for Nunavut. We have not put the energy into coming up with what it would have been that we might have collected, seeing that we have decided not to tack on an interest charge.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Health and Social Services in the previous Assembly did, in fact, send up an individual and help the authority go through its finances and begin to look at its books to see where it was having problems. So some of that work has been started. FMBS at Stanton, as I’ve stated, has become directly involved with the collections side. Invoices have been sent out and are due. We’re working with the appropriate bodies to get payment on those.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2007–2008, be read for the first time.