Glen Abernethy

I look forward to seeing that information once the Minister of Justice provides it to me.

In a similar line, would the Department of Justice consider core funding to the Yellowknife Community Wellness Coalition so that they would be able to hire a coordinator to provide further training to their membership and promote their organization? It would benefit not just Yellowknife. If this organization is established, they’d certainly be able to provide the best practices to some of the other larger communities in the Northwest Territories — Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik, Simpson — which may be able...

I move to report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed Bill 16, the Write-off of Debts Act, 2008–2009, at a meeting on October 3, 2008.

Following the clause by clause review a motion was carried to report to the Assembly that Bill 16 is ready for consideration by Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 16. Individual Members may have comments or questions as we proceed.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Does committee agree?

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, maybe my initial opening comments were a little on the long side and people stopped listening to me halfway through. In no way, shape or form does this motion suggest that vehicles in small communities should have a higher registration rate. It doesn’t say that. It doesn’t suggest that. If that’s what you think, I’m sorry, but that’s definitely not what it’s saying.

It does actually provide some incentive and encourage people to buy more fuel efficient vehicles. There may be a lower rate to those individuals, but certainly not a higher rate for those individuals in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS climate change, as a result of greenhouse gas emissions, is one of the most serious environmental, economic and political challenges of our time;

AND WHEREAS global climate change is predicted to result in significant impacts in the North, some of which are already being felt;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories, through the NWT Greenhouse Gas Strategy, has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 10 per cent below 2001 levels by 2011;

AND WHEREAS the Northwest Territories per capita greenhouse gas emissions are over 50 per cent higher...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed Bill 17, the Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2008–2009, at a meeting on October 3. Following the clause by clause review a motion was carried to report to the Assembly that Bill 17 is now ready for consideration by Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 17. Individual Members may have comments or questions as we proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations held a public hearing on Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, on October 6, 2008.

The proposed amendments make the Income Tax Act consistent with similar provisions in the federal Income Tax Act. These amendments were recommended by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency and are part of a nationwide updating exercise.

The Northwest Territories, Nunavut and New Brunswick are the three remaining jurisdictions needing to update their legislation. The affected provisions are related to charitable donations, medical expense...

Mr. Roland rose on a point of order with regard to comments made in Committee of the Whole by Mr. Bromley in the context of debate on capital estimates. Mr. Roland asserted that Mr. Bromley was in contravention of Rule 23(i), which states, “A Member will be called to order…if the Member imputes false or hidden motives to another Member.”

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Transportation is in the early stages of designing and implementing a new digital vehicle registration system to be used throughout the Northwest Territories. Given that we’re still in the development phase, now’s the best time to consider a change in how we register vehicles in the NWT so that can be incorporated into the system.

I believe that vehicle registration fees in the Northwest Territories should be changed from a flat rate to a graduated emission based system. This strategy will help the Northwest Territories and Canada meet its targets for...