Louis Sebert

As mentioned previously, there had not been an increase in a considerable amount of time. Listening carefully to the concerns that had been raised in this House, we did implement a reduction of residential lease fees to 5 per cent of assessed value, down from 10 per cent, so we felt that that was assisting those residents, most of whom would be living in their own houses on those properties, so that was an actual reduction in fees.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 74(2) and have Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, moved into Committee of the Whole for today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "2018-19 Corporate Plan - Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I know that there certainly are large tax bills. I became very aware of that on a personal basis when I was out in Behchoko, and many people came to me with large bills that they had received from MACA. I am not certain if I want to bring the responsibility for collecting those back from Finance to Lands, but I will discuss with the Ministers of MACA and Lands these issues.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not aware as to whether the difference between tax- and non-tax-based communities is used in the Lands department. Perhaps the question would be more properly addressed to MACA, but I will check on that. Thank you.

There is, of course, no seniors' discount currently on territorial lands, but the department is looking at implementing similar provisions for residential leases on territorial lands as is currently available on Commissioner's lands. So it's a question of, really, bringing together the two types of leases, and they should be similar, at least, so we certainly are looking at the change which the Member opposite has proposed. Certainly, there have been increases, but, as I mentioned, there was a reduction in residential lease fees on Commissioner's land from 10 per cent to 5 per cent of assessed...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I had mentioned previously, these rates have not been changed for many years, and we wanted to have consistency with our leasing rates, so therefore these changes which the Member opposite is alluding to were felt to be reasonable. Costs have increased considerably over the last 15 or 20 years, and we thought that these increases, which are significant, are reasonable. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the second time. This bill amends the Revolving Funds Act to increase the authorized limit of the Liquor Revolving Fund. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act, as amended, be read for the third time. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I have been passed a note that there is a contract in place for the NSCC Zone 1 security infrastructure. Construction is under way. Anticipated completion by the end of July 2018.