Debates of November 30, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Lafferty.

Further Return To Question 82-16(1): NWT Arts Achievement Acknowledgement

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we’ve outlined in the strategic plan for the 16th Assembly, this can certainly be one of the priorities; it will be up to the Members here to set priorities. But I’m more than willing to sit down with the Member and other Members who are requesting meetings with Ministers on various issues and concerns. This could be one of them that we’ll certainly meet on. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier. I wanted to ask the Premier, does the Government of the Northwest Territories have a list of priority projects for the Building Canada Fund? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 83-16(1): Building Canada Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What we’ve done to date is work with the federal government on a framework agreement, as Minister McLeod has stated, and working with their criteria, requested departments to look at the plans that we have in place -- that is the 2007-2008 infrastructure plan -- and see what we can work with in looking at our existing financial situation. It has a role in that. We’ve done that work and we’re prepared to work with the federal government in coming up with a couple of key initiatives early on and then work through our normal business planning process. So is there a list? The list would be our starting point as the capital plan for this government that’s already out there. That’s our starting point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 83-16(1): Building Canada Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That was quite a lengthy answer for a yes or no question. Again, I’d like to ask the Premier what…Okay, first I’m going to ask him again: Is there a list of priority projects for the Building Canada Fund? Yes or no.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 83-16(1): Building Canada Fund

Cabinet has not made a decision on a priority list that we’re prepared to present to the federal government. We’ve had discussions within departments and, as I’ve laid out, we’ve worked from the information we have available and that’s public to date. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 83-16(1): Building Canada Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Assuming that there’s no list, how do Regular Members have any input into the decisions on what priorities are on that list, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 83-16(1): Building Canada Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the lead Minister on the Building Canada Fund has prepared the information for Members and had discussions with them, we’re going to work with our existing arrangement that we have in place. For example, right now the federal government is looking for an announcement, an assignment of a framework that would highlight the first project or two that we’d be prepared to move on, meeting their criteria. We would then, because the money is a seven-year funding agreement, sit down with Members and, as highlighted, we’re intending to go forward with an interim appropriation that would have the full capital plan attached to that because of the timing of contracts that need to be let. Through that process, we’re ready to sit down with Members and go through that list of what can be further added to the Building Fund dollars that would be available to us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 83-16(1): Building Canada Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The last government had a history of avoidance and not including Regular Members in the decision-making process. I’d like to ask the Premier how is this government going to be different and how are they going to engage Regular Members in the decision-making process so that consensus government and the spirit and intent of consensus government is not continually eroded? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 83-16(1): Building Canada Fund

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the 16th Legislative Assembly, we’ve already started, I think, a cooperative arrangement. We’ve gone forward, a meeting already has been held on this issue. A decision has not been made by Cabinet. I am prepared to sit down with Members again. As I already laid out, the interim appropriation, the business planning, no decisions have been made in that area. We have to set the priorities, but we are going to have to work within a fiscal environment that is going to squeeze us in a number of areas. Infrastructure is going to be one of those large areas. So that is where we are at, at this point. I am prepared to continue to work with Members, but at some point, so we don’t lose a year on some of these projects or potential projects, we are going to have to make a decision. I trust that is what Members have given us authority in. As we have our discussions, at some point a decision is made and we will need to proceed. Hopefully we will have enough support that we will proceed on a number of projects. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. It is in regards to the infrastructure needs in our communities. I am not making it sound like there is no need in the community of Aklavik. I know with the flood a couple of years ago, that we expended over $2 million hauling crushed gravel from Inuvik to Aklavik by barge. But yet, Mr. Speaker, there is a gravel source 15 kilometres from the community by way of Willow River. I think, as a government, that we do have a program called the community access road program, but it is very limited on really doing anything practical on the ground. I think it is important, Mr. Speaker, that we, as government, develop a program or put more resources into a program to allow for communities to develop their granular sources so that they are able to meet the challenges of climate change, floods, infrastructure needs and, more importantly, build up those communities that are threatened by climate change such as shore erosion, floods and other things. As a government, maybe we should look at the policies we already have and develop around those policies. I would like to ask the Premier not to lose sight of his neighbours to the west, but to keep them in mind that we also have some challenges which are unique. I support the project in regards to site 177, but I think also the community of Aklavik is in similar need. I would like to ask the Premier, will he also commit to the community of Aklavik as he just committed to the Member for Nunakput?

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 84-16(1): Constituency Infrastructure Priorities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will do our job to try to get to every community in the Northwest Territories, and I am prepared to meet with the Member and his community on this issue. It has been a longstanding one. We have arranged, for example, transportation at times if the Housing Corporation or a number of departments have projects. They arrange for a larger source. At times the winter road is built into that area and gravel hauled out. As a government, we are going to have a discussion on the overall package of what we bring forward and those initiatives and priorities. I am prepared to work with the Member and travel with him and speak on this issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 84-16(1): Constituency Infrastructure Priorities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I touched on the community access road program. We do have federal dollars now that we are plugging into in regards to $33 million of capacity funding. Is there a possibility that the Premier and his Cabinet could look at the possibility of expanding the community access road program to expand the amount of money that is allocated to the community access program? Right now it is $50,000 per year. Maybe we can take some of that federal funding, put it into this program, increase the allowances that are allowed for that program so that we really can make a difference to communities to access their gravel sources, such as $2 million per project.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 84-16(1): Constituency Infrastructure Priorities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we have entered this cycle, we are preparing to come forward once we have our discussion about the overall priorities of the 16th Assembly, look at the interim appropriation, for example, to carry on before we come forward with our full budget which would be in early spring, May or June. At that point, the requests for additional money, change of programs, we would be willing to work with Members, again looking at the overall priorities of the 16th Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 84-16(1): Constituency Infrastructure Priorities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to the Premier’s commitment, I do believe, as a government, we have the unique programs out there. We have developed them over the years. But I think it is the lack of real adequate resources that are in those programs that really make them work. I think I mentioned the community access program. It is a good idea. It is a good initiative, but it is limited on the amount of resources that is in it. As a government, I think we should look at programs that do work and put more resources into them and make them accessible to all communities throughout the Northwest Territories to make sure that it is not generally just to a couple of regions or a couple of communities, that we are able to develop a lot of our smaller communities who have all of these challenges by way of infrastructure. I would like to ask the Minister, would the Premier consider looking at the possibility of expanding this program by putting more resources in it to make it more deliverable and accessible for our communities?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 84-16(1): Constituency Infrastructure Priorities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would have to agree with the Member on putting more resources where programs are working. As an Assembly, we are going to have to go through the exercise of coming up with some of those key priorities and then try to find the funding to put into those areas, but we are going to have to look at how we do that. There are going to be challenges across the board. We are going to have to reallocate internally, as well. We need to have that discussion. As I committed, we will do that through our business planning process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 84-16(1): Constituency Infrastructure Priorities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, also I would like to encourage the Premier to build partnerships outside of governments, outside of communities and also with aboriginal governments. I know the aboriginal community is interested in different projects to assist their communities. I would like to ask the Premier if he would like to consider the possibility of getting by aboriginal governments, corporations, development corporations, so that they can move on some of these projects.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 84-16(1): Constituency Infrastructure Priorities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is those kinds of partnerships that will help in the delivery of key infrastructure in our communities. The more that that type of partnership can come forward and can help us and we help each other by bringing our resources together, that is something that we definitely have to look at. So we would be open to those types of discussions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think my question is for the Premier. A lot of people are involved in activities where they consume petroleum products in the North that have nothing to do with using our roads and yet there is a road tax component on gasoline and diesel. I am thinking along the same vein as the folks involved in agriculture who need petroleum products, and people involved in the commercial fishing industry. I don’t know why fuel for their vessels should be contributing to a road tax. Also, harvesters that are involved in traditional hunting and trapping activities are all paying a tax. Their activities would be more sustainable if their costs of doing business would be lowered. Why can’t we, as a government, come up with a way of not creating a cumbersome administration on trying to decipher at the point of sale what is going to be used for what purpose, but why can’t we come up with a receipt program just like you would when you file your income tax and if you own a small business, where you are allowed to submit receipts for a rebate based on certain activities? Why couldn’t we come up with something like that to alleviate the cost of living on some of these activities that have nothing to do with roads? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 85-16(1): Gas Tax Rebate For Non-Transportation Industries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the last time there was a differentiation between the type of gasoline for transportation versus agriculture or fishing, I recall many years ago it was referred to as purple gas. It was used in equipment outside of transportation. We, as the GNWT, hadn’t put that in place. We could look at options of doing that. We would recognize a certain amount of lost income. The problem I think that becomes bigger is the administration of something like that. How it would work is something that we would have to work around, as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 85-16(1): Gas Tax Rebate For Non-Transportation Industries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I think we did determine that trying to determine the use of the product at point of sale was too difficult and too cumbersome. It is understood and agreed we can’t do that. We can’t even keep track of the difference between stuff going for diesel for home heating fuel to diesel going for filling your vehicle. We can’t even keep that straight. So I don’t suggest that we try to do it at the point of sale. What I am suggesting is that somehow when people file their personal income tax return and they are involved in those activities which are included in their return, that they be able to submit receipts and get a rebate for the portion of the tax related to on road. That is what I am suggesting. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 85-16(1): Gas Tax Rebate For Non-Transportation Industries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that area would take a fair bit of work as we work with the federal government in collection and remittance of our personal income tax in the Northwest Territories. I am sure there are ways of looking at our portion to see if we can make something like this happen. As we know, there are other ways already. If you have a small business, you can remit receipts for certain areas and have an impact on your taxation side. I would have to look at that if that is already available to people in this area, but that’s something we can look at working at.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the Member a supplementary. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 85-16(1): Gas Tax Rebate For Non-Transportation Industries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Okay, if it’s difficult to do that with the federal government, what about the people involved in these activities just submitting these receipts to this government for a rebate on the fuel for the tax portion only related to roads? That should not be too difficult to administer. Just submit their receipts in these activities for a rebate on their fuel purchases. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 85-16(1): Gas Tax Rebate For Non-Transportation Industries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The one thing I have learned having the Finance portfolio and the whole taxation side and how fuel moves from one location in the territory to another or even from one tank to another, how the categories can change. The big issue will be, as we look at developing a program, is how it would be administered and how do we ensure people are putting the right claims in is an area. That’s something we can work on. I think it’s an interesting area and I would be prepared to sit down with Members to see if we can work this out a little further and look at what we might be able to bring forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 85-16(1): Gas Tax Rebate For Non-Transportation Industries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I was asked to raise this by the Territorial Farmers’ Association and I realize that it may be cumbersome, but the cost of doing business is continually going up. The price of the product is not going up. This is discouraging people from being involved in any of our renewable resource sector activities that are not involved with roads. The cost of fuel, it’s going to be an all-time high now again. I look forward to working with the Minister on trying to find some way of alleviating the cost of doing business in these sectors. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to oral questions. Thank you.