Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2006-2007, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the majority of decisions made now within the Sahtu are made by the people of the Sahtu when you talk about a critical program in Health and Social Services, in Education, in Human Resources even having that centre there. So, Mr. Speaker, we are working to ensure that the level of services we provide throughout the Territories is expanded to communities. If, of course, the Members of this Assembly feel that we should put more dollars into the administrative side of governance and want to give me those funds so that we can establish those office positions...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Members realize, I believe we only have three centres where FMBS is directly involved and that’s changed with the work of Human Resources. At this point, there is no plan for FMBS to establish any more offices or add any further personnel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again going from own knowledge of previous experience in this department, is that our process is established for services available within the Northwest Territories. Those that need those services would be directed to the location closest to them. If they don't like that level of service and choose upon their own wisdom to travel beyond that, that would be at their own cost. The same would fall into levels of services that are available within Canada. Again, because we've been dealing with this file with other jurisdictions and trying to come up with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe there would be a policy in place that's in effect that would deal with how patients access services, whether it's in our territory then to the next jurisdiction where we have a contract for services and if there are no facilities within Canada, then further to pre-approve programs. But that would follow a timeline and process. In the particular Member's spoke about here in the Assembly, although I'm not going to get into the level of detail, I'm aware that he hasn't been left out there on his own. There have been many doctors' visits to try...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There's a number of factors that play a role here. Year by year it would fluctuate. With our stronger economy in the Northwest Territories, the job market being as robust as it is, more people employed and being able to meet their payment plans and so on has been good in that sense. So it would fluctuate from year to year. Yes, over the last number of years, the government has tightened up on its collection side to ensure that we clean up that section of area and government accounting. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Member's correct; at this stage it does hurt individuals for credit rating as we find ourselves at this stage, because it's already gone through the collections process and was not recovered. As I stated earlier, there are a number of factors that come in, but it is primarily done…The initial counselling or discussion of trying to set up prepayment plans is done within departments and boards and agencies. Because it's such a broad spectrum of groups that are involved, whether it's specifically with departments or agencies, there are a number of...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With me at the table is the secretary to the FMB, Mr. Mark Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to introduce Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2006-2007. This bill requests authority for the forgiveness of certain debts listed in the schedule of the act.

Pursuant to section 25(1) of the Financial Administration Act, the forgiveness of a debt or obligation to the government exceeding $1,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval.

When a debt is forgiven, no further collection action shall be pursued.

The forgiveness of certain debts being proposed in this act will not require a new appropriation. Allowances for doubtful accounts were charged to an...

Yes, that’s correct. The WCB is fully involved in their own process. It comes to our table again just because of the Financial Administration Act and we put it through this final stage. Thank you.