Obviously, being a private homeowner, they would be responsible for the remediation of their piles. However, the Housing Corporation does offer the CARE program where, if they’re eligible, they would qualify for home repairs and get the piling work done. As far as a program designed specifically for that, it doesn’t exist right now, but clients will have an opportunity through one of the home repair programs to get the work done to their units.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister consider looking at ways to increase support to homeowners in remote communities and the need to replace oil tanks and wood pilings and to enhance the programs under the NWT housing CARE program?
We’re always looking at ways that we can improve the delivery of our program. We have allocated, in the past number of years, a large amount of resources to the communities. I can stand here and quote some numbers from the Member’s constituency where one particular community received $4.7 million since 2007. Another community got about the same amount. We try and distribute the resources that we have equally. We’ve been fortunate in the last number of years with the federal investment. We’ve been able to allocate more resources. With that money being sunsetted we’re back to our historical levels, but we still recognize the importance of helping those in the communities that need assistance. I think last year we allocated about $9 million to help homeowners. This year the number is a little lower, what we’re proposing. Still we see it as our contribution to helping those that want to fix up their units. Again I will remind the Member that for those who qualify for some of the programs, there’s always the assistance in dealing with some of the issues surrounding their units.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Bonus question. For myself, would the Minister, for the private homeowners, like, we have some elders that are retired and the family is still working. They still say that under the last fiscal year, would the Minister reconsider looking at the pre-qualifications and opening that up with the Housing Corporation to be able to allocate more monies to the individuals in the communities?
We try to distribute our resources equally and fairly across the Northwest Territories. We have some of our smaller communities that continue to get a good portion of the money. We’re always looking at ways to allocate resources to a lot of the communities that are in need. We find we have more applications in one community than another. We’re always looking at ways we can assist our homeowners to improve the condition of their units.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about the need for a hotel tax which is being called upon by the Hotel Association asking the Minister of Finance to create such an initiative that could help support tourism initiatives in the Northwest Territories. What is the hesitation of the Department of Finance from simply creating a hotel tax that could be targeted to help support the tourism industry?
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s not an issue of hesitation. It’s an issue of getting feedback, getting some initial direction and positive response through the revenue roundtables and then mapping out the way forward. In this case, it was recommended that the ability to have a hotel tax be delegated down to the community level. The Member is talking about something for the Hotel Association. This points to the need for doing the proper work to in fact decide upon what would be the right structure. I’ve indicated in this budget that there’s not going to be any tax increases, so that work would be, if it’s being done, considered by the 17th Assembly.
The Hotel Association as well as a number of people in the tourism organizations out there all would like a hotel tax. I think they’ve been advocating for this particular type of tax for some time now. This is not a new initiative that’s been suggested. The Minister talked about downloading it maybe to further governance but I don’t think that’s the ideal approach. What conditions would the Minister of Finance need to be in place or to see supported in order to make it a territorial hotel tax?
The Member is correct. In fact, this hotel tax initiative did come before this House back in 2000 and was not successful in being approved by this House, the concern being driving up the cost of doing business and putting an extra burden on the tourism industry. In this particular case, the Member’s line of questioning versus what we heard at the roundtable in October points to, at the very least, a need for further discussion. The Association of Communities made the request and supported the request that it be delegated, at their request, to the communities. The Member’s talking about a territorial-wide one. That alone in itself is a source of contention that would need some revision and work. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I suspect under the Municipal Towns and Villages Act they have the ability to create a hotel tax, but that’s not exactly what they would like. They would rather see it as an across-the-board, fair, even policy created by the Finance Minister and, if anything, allow it to be targeted at tourism initiatives, that it could be a tax targeted with a special purpose.
Mr. Speaker, is there apprehension from the Department of Finance to creating a territorial tax from doing this type of initiative or do they just not want to do the work? Because as I understand it, tourism wants it and the Hotel Association supports this. I’m just trying to get a sense of what’s stopping the Department of Finance from moving on this particular initiative other than finding reasons not to. Thank you.
His statement is the first awareness that I have, the first notice that I’ve had that the Hotel Association wants a tax imposed territory-wide. Unless I’ve missed it or I’ve forgotten it, I don’t recollect hearing this specifically before. He has raised this issue for the first time in the House. There was a different approach suggested by the Association of Communities. Once again, that alone, in terms of how it would be applied, is going to require some discussion. It’s not that we’re reluctant. There’s work being done. It has been done. We’ve indicated in this budget, in the House here a couple weeks ago when I did the budget address, that there are no new taxes planned for this particular budget. If there’s going to be further work done and a decision made on a hotel tax, then that work will be carried out to fruition by the 17th Assembly. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s not my intention to break the promise of the Finance Minister when he says he’s holding the line on taxes, so he should be assured that I’m not trying to trip him up on that promise to the people of the NWT. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Finance be willing to come to a meeting, if I was able to arrange it, with the Hotel Association and even some municipality officials on this particular issue about creating the hotel tax initiative? That money could be targeted at the tourism industry, an industry that could use more money to help bring new dollars into our economy, which is a very important base to our overall strength of our northern business. Thank you.
As a matter of practice, I look seriously at every invitation that I get, especially ones that are put forward by Members of the Legislative Assembly, and I will, of course, give such an invitation, should it come from the Member, every full and due consideration that it deserves. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my Member’s statement, that we get with the Wildlife Act, the document that is right as opposed to right now. This act affects everybody in the Northwest Territories, Aboriginal hunters, non-Aboriginal hunters, harvesters, industry, transportation. In fact, every person who goes outside is affected or will be affected by the Wildlife Act.
My question to the Minister is: what is the urgency? Why don’t we wait, go back out, talk to those people who have concerns, get the information and put forward an act that is right? We need to delay this, Mr. Speaker, so will the Minister commit to taking it off the table for March and putting it back on the table for maybe May or August? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
No, Mr. Speaker.
Wow, an answer. I really, really kind of like that. That’s, I think, the first one I’ve gotten from the Minister in three and a half years. But I will go back, Mr. Speaker. I mean, clearly there are issues and concerns out there with respect to this Wildlife Act. It needs to be thoroughly invested and thoroughly reviewed. The Minister hasn’t been able to provide any assurances that the people’s voices are heard. What is the Minister going to do, and I’ve asked this question before, but what is he going to do to make sure that these people’s voices are heard before we put this act in front of the House for consideration, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Speaker, I would suggest to the Member that he’s received many answers from me over the life of this Assembly; he just may not have liked them all. That does not consist not getting an answer.
In this particular case, we have done consultation. There was a publication sent out in 2009 that laid out all the main principles, proposed changes followed since that time with ongoing consultation. This act is a good act. I think it meets the test and I will also submit to this House that no matter what assurances I would provide to the Member except delaying and killing the bill, would not satisfy him with his insatiable focus on process. Thank you.
I think the Minister’s putting some words in my mouth. I have no interest whatsoever in killing this bill and I’ve been pretty clear along those lines ever since we started having conversation. I am concerned about process, because we are a public government, Mr. Speaker. We must be transparent in everything we do. We must be accountable for our actions. In this case, I don’t believe the public consultation is particularly transparent or accountable. I’ve heard from representatives from the Government of the Northwest Territories, members of his own department, members from ITI, members from other departments with concerns about this act. I’ve heard from industry. I’ve heard from the Chamber of Mines. I’ve heard from the NWT Wildlife Federation. I have heard from people on the street that have concerns. There are many, many people out there who are frustrated and concerned about this process. All I’m asking is let’s go back and give these organizations an opportunity to have a conversation with the Minister and his department to solve some of these issues that they have, to make sure that their voices are heard. I’m not suggesting that he agree with them. It’s okay to disagree, but it’s not okay to ignore, and that’s what I feel is happening in this situation.
I would like the Minister to not ignore these industries, not ignore these organizations, not ignore our people, Mr. Speaker, and go out and listen to them. If it takes a little bit more time, it takes a little bit more time. Mr. Speaker, to the Minister: what is the harm in waiting? What is the harm in getting the input from these people and providing them with reasonable expectation or reasonable certainty that they have been heard? What is the harm, Mr. Speaker?
I believe at the end of the day we will have addressed the majority of concerns of the groups that Member keeps referring to. I mean, I’ve seen the correspondence, I’ve seen the various iterations of the act, I’ve looked at the changes, so I’m confident that we have done the work necessary to bring this act to the House. It gets first and second reading and then it will go to committee, then the committee will have an opportunity to take in on the road to consult, which will be another opportunity to come back before third reading to see what other further changes may be necessary and agreed to.
The Member well knows that this has been a priority of this Assembly; it’s been a priority since almost 1990 when the issue first came up. Some groups have been waiting 27 years to have their land claims reflected in this act, some 18 years. This act is seriously out of date and the Member knows on the timelines before us that his talk about what is the harm, let’s just delay this, is that this bill would not see the light of day in this government and it would be the new government and a year or two years or depends how successful the Member would be in terms of process, maybe sometime not even in the life of the 17th Assembly to finally hit the floor of this Assembly. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I disagree with the Minister. I think it won’t need a significant amount of time. It needs time to guarantee that the people have been heard. His argument is convenient but not particularly practical. We need to get out there, Mr. Speaker. People on the street are saying it and I don’t know how the Minister is missing it, quite frankly. It’s in the paper, it’s on the street. People are talking about it. People are concerned. A delay and giving these organizations reasonable opportunity to have the conversation with the Minister, and like I said, not necessarily agree, but are certain that they’ve been heard is enough. He didn’t really answer the question. I’m curious; what is the harm in delaying this until we get the input and the confidence that he and his department haven’t heard? It’s not there, Mr. Speaker. What is the harm?
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just in our own political timeline, this particular session will go to the 7th of March. There will be a prorogation and on the 7th of March there will be a new session starting which will be an opportunity to bring into the House this bill and other legislation for first and second reading which gives the committee 120 days to do their work and report back to the House, which means in all probability the last session in August. If, in fact, we wait until May or June, then we will totally miss any opportunity in the life of this government to bring this bill to the floor of the House. This has been identified as a priority and the intention is to give notice on March 7th for first reading on the 9th. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions today for the Minister of Health and Social Services getting back to my Member’s statement where I talked about planning for the future of health care in the Northwest Territories. How is the Minister planning to move the Foundation for Change along and introduce it to the public here in the Northwest Territories as the answer for what ails our health care system here in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, since the Foundation for Change action plan was unveiled in 2009, it was made clear that it is a three-year action plan. It is one of the important foundation documents that we are using to change our system and to make our system work together as a system and work better. Mr. Speaker, since that, we have had regional dialogues in every region of the Northwest Territories. We have had them on the website. I have made numerous statements in the Assembly. Mr. Speaker, we have been doing a lot of work to disseminate the information within the system and out. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the Foundation for Change was unveiled in 2009, as the Minister stated. I know the Standing Committee on Social Programs has been updated a couple of times on the Foundation for Change. When will the next update be coming on the Foundation for Change? When might the committee and Members of this government... Is this government actually going to act on any of the findings of the recommendations from the Foundation for Change? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, at the request of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, we submitted about a 50-page draft document, a work plan status update about a week or 10 days ago. I am sure the Member could get a copy of that if he would like. I could provide him with that. That is also being posted on our website. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier of the need for capital dollars and especially in the area of health care. I am wondering what planning is going into trying to look to the future needs capital requirements for our health care system, particularly Stanton Hospital which I mentioned is probably going to need a major capital retrofit in the very near future, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the Member knows that we have a capital planning process. We just approved our capital budget last fall. In that was money for planning for Stanton Territorial Health Authority. In our meeting this morning in the committee, the Member was advised that the work that we are going to be doing -- and the CEO and the public administrator of the authority have advised the committee as well -- for Stanton has to be in line with the work that we are doing in our regional health centres. What we are going to be delivering in Hay River, Fort Smith, Norman Wells and Inuvik will have much to say about the next phase of capital planning for the Stanton Hospital. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We did have, at the beginning of this government, a small amount of capital money, not that $28 million is a small amount of money, but that was earmarked for Stanton Territorial Hospital for a master development plan. That money, under the Minister’s watch, vanished into thin air. Mr. Speaker, again, we don’t just pull $250 million together. We have to come up with a plan to address the capital needs at that hospital. That planning has to start now, Mr. Speaker. What planning is going into today to try to find money for tomorrow that we are going to need to get that capital retrofit done at that hospital? That planning has to start now, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the planning has started and the Member knows that. He has to update his thinking on the basis of information he gets. The $28 million or whatever million that was in Stanton, that was from the old capital planning process which this Assembly has rejected. In the old ways of doing that, X dollars would be put into a budget and then people design afterwards, but we changed that system in 2007-08, Mr. Speaker. Now we have to do a planning study and you have to go through a peer review. You have to have level B estimate before it will get on the books. There is in the budget for planning for Stanton Territorial Hospital. The work is progressing. The Member is entirely accurate and not taking into consideration the new information he received this morning to say that somehow the money disappeared and he doesn’t know anything about it, because I submit to you, he approved the capital budget for the last three years and he knows exactly what happened.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Status of Women. I would like to start with questions on family violence since, of course, women bear the huge brunt of this tragedy. My first question is on the Centre for Northern Families. The Minister has had time to research my questions of last Monday. What is your plan for action this week to save this crucial haven for wounded families? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Centre for Northern Families received funding from the government from various envelopes, but the main funder is Education, Culture and Employment, because they get funding for the best spaces that they have there. ECE has been taking the lead in reviewing the program. We continue to talk to the management of the centre to find options. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, so much again for cross-departmental coordination in this government. My second question is related to the Coalition Against Family Violence which has been our most successful partnership for combating family violence. Will the Minister commit to reporting to this Assembly next week on the outcomes of this meeting either by her own Minister’s statement or by offering a timely briefing in the House and being prepared to answer our questions? Mahsi.
