Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In celebration of National Volunteer Week, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, presented the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers to Valerie Gendron of Fort Simpson on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at Rideau Hall.

The Medal for Volunteers recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across Canada. Valerie Gendron has been a speed skating coach, a minor hockey coach, a soccer coach, and a mentor with local athletic clubs for more than 17 years.

Val has always been an outgoing and engaging member in our community...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The committee has nothing to add at this time and look forward to the clause-by-clause review of Bill 5. However, other Members may wish to have comments. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Development has reviewed Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act, and wish to report that the bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister. I understand we can go around and around in circles. What I am trying to do is come up with a plan that we can move forward for the residents of Fort Liard. The problem is that somebody made a promise to them and now, no fault of their own, they made a decision that they were not going to pay their taxes, so what we are trying to do is come up with a plan to do it. Previously, the Minister talked about the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, and, if I understand him correctly, outstanding interest charges on property taxes are considered part of the taxation outstanding...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was talking earlier today in my Member's statement about taxation, and I asked the Minister some questions. I would like to follow up with more questions to the Minister of Finance: can the Minister advise, of that $9.6 million, how much is owed in taxes by the residents of the hamlet of Fort Liard and have a breakdown of principle and interest? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for that answer. In my Member's statement, you heard me say that the interest rate is coming out at 15 per cent, and it seems to be very high. Was the community consulted or engaged in coming up with this rate?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you heard me talk about the taxation issue in Fort Liard, and I have questions for the Minister of Finance. My first question: as a department, how did they come up with the mill rate for the Community of Fort Liard? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Monday, March 19, I had the opportunity to attend a public meeting in Fort Liard that was being put on by the Departments of Lands, Municipal and Community Affairs, and Finances. The topic was about land and taxes.

I would have to say, overall, it was a good meeting. The staff did a great job of getting the information out to the people who were present. However, it did raise a number of concerns about how land taxes were collected for the Hamlet of Fort Liard.

Unfortunately, a number of individuals were told not to pay their taxes. This has caused a big mess for those...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 75(5) to have Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act, moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Al Browning came into this world like a sheep on July 10, 1963, and departed like a lion on March 19, 2018, much too soon for all of us to comprehend or believe. He has left a great void in the lives of those who loved him deeply.

Allan is the second oldest child of Rose and Tommy Browning. He is a descendant of a great family who has a rich history around Fort Simpson and the Deh Cho. The Browning family is part of northern history, and his grandfather ran a sawmill that provided much of the lumber for the community's early infrastructure. Allan and the great members of...