Robert Villeneuve

Okay, and that's in the stats that we have today. That's the historical stats, I guess. I guess in your professional opinion, how much more attractive would it be for corporations to file their taxes in the NWT and making this change?

Fine, thank you. I just wanted to make sure people know that.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to ask -- probably the Minister of Health, I guess, could answer this -- section 1 of the Medical Care Act, does that include everybody who receives medical services in the NWT, insured or non-insured, non-residential, whoever? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Can the Minister provide this House with the “new” affordable housing plans?

What innovative changes are incorporated into the affordable housing plans that more adequately meet the needs of northerners?

Has there been any post-analysis done to assess whether or not adjustments to floor plans will better meet specific needs of potential clients. If so, can the Minister provide this information?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are they all these 500 units that they are planning on putting on the ground in the next two years now, do we already have the clients already listed of who is going to be getting a house, which ones are going to the public housing? Are those lists already drawn up, family sizes determined and needs assessed? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for Housing. You’re not off the hook until 5:00 today.

---Laughter

So I better get my questions in.

---Applause

Anyway, just talking about the affordable housing initiative. Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Speaker, I’m fully supportive of the affordable housing initiative. I only have concerns because I just don’t want this initiative to be reflected on five years from now or after its completion by the public as another big Housing Corporation mistake on the type of units that are put on the ground. I just want to ask the Minister...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I just want to talk about the consultation processes this government conducts with the regional governments, our community governments and any individual residents in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, we have all heard of a lack of comprehensive consultations and the lackadaisical attitude of taking proper direction from community organizations and residents in outlying communities by our bureaucracy.

We often hear about the issues and concerns during these consultation meetings falling on deaf ears. We are not reaching the proper authorities; for example, the...

Yes, as we move forward to develop regulations that are regionally specific, would it be safe to say that regions could include or incorporate into their own regulations for the region into any tourism licence, employment-specific regulations when dealing with the issuance of any tourism licence? Is that within law or is it allowable? Thank you.

I think in these interim measures agreements that we have, I think the Minister or the government still has the final say on whether to issue a licence or not, whether an aboriginal organization or community organization, NGO, for example, has some issues surrounding the issuance of a licence to a particular operator or an operator that is maybe not from the territory. How much consideration is given to the final outcome of any issuance or renewal to an organization that has those concerns? Thank you.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Bill 11, Tourism Act. The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development met on September 5th, 2006, and October 16th, 2006, to review Bill 11, Tourism Act for the Northwest Territories.

The committee had a brief presentation from Ms. Robin Wotherspoon, president of the NWT Tourism Association.

The committee is pleased with the new simplified process of obtaining a tourism licence in the Northwest Territories. The existing tourist establishment licence and travel and tourism outfitter licence will be replaced with a single tourism operator licence. A new...