Debates of October 27, 2006 (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, the government went to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight in September of this year with a proposal for employment equity. In other words, taking specific targets and providing resources to make sure we could move to meet those targets in certain areas. The government hasn’t had a formal response back yet from AOC. Once we have that response, we’ll be prepared to move to address the issue and we’ll certainly take a look at the proposal that Mr. Villeneuve is now making. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

With the new employment equity of programs, Mr. Speaker, is the government going to be applying any special measures to improve the rate at which our qualified members of a designated group are hired in the NWT? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government believed that the employment equity plan that was put before committee would have improved the results over what we’re seeing under the current policy. That was the position that was advanced. So yes, that was the goal to try and improve the results. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I talked about the Novel housing project. Mr. Speaker, the written questions to the previous Minister talked about five key points in terms of the comparative analysis of the Novel housing project. Number one, the Mackenzie gas project is a go or no go. Number two, it’s under a full-scale review by the proponents. Number three, the Novel concept must be accepted by the proponents on a workforce housing initiative and competitive bidding process. I’d like to ask the Minister of the Housing Corporation in terms of time frame, in terms of we’re going to look seriously at the third point in the points that the previous Minister outlined to a question that was posed to him. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 209-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my understanding that the proponent is ready to accept the Novel housing concept, but we are waiting for the federal government to give us word on whether or not they are partnering in this program. Without the federal government, this project just doesn’t work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 209-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the response. That was my fourth point in this written question. The federal government must agree financially to contribute to this and proponents must agree that to hand over these units upon completion of the Mackenzie gas project at no cost to the federal government. So my question to the Minister of the Housing Corporation, when will he know from this current government, when will he know that this deal must get done otherwise it’s no go for this Novel concept? We’re too late to get into the business of this Novel housing. So when will he expect to tell the people of the Northwest Territories the federal government’s on board and we’re ready to go with the Novel concept? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 209-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Mr. Speaker, I haven’t given the federal government a deadline of when I need them to reply because that’s tied to when the pipeline project moves ahead and, as Members know, Imperial and their partners are just doing a costing of it right now and there could be some changes in their plans. But, Mr. Speaker, I have asked the Minister and I’ve told the Minister, tell us yes or no, are they on side with this one or are they not? Because if they’re not going to partner on it then let us know and we’ll stop spending our time and energy on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 209-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you. I certainly support the Premier’s strong voice and opinions to the Prime Minister in terms of this Novel. Quit wasting the time; similar to the resource revenue sharing and devolution agreements. It’s a no go or it’s a go. So, Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister of the Housing Corporation in terms of this whole Novel concept, I understand from the previous discussions in the House with the Fort Providence bridge project that the Novel was going to be considered as a test in exposure of units of these types of Novel housing units. Are they still being considered elsewhere in the Northwest Territories in terms of testing out these ATCO homes in terms of the availability or strength of them? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 209-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Member’s right. The Mackenzie Valley pipeline isn’t the only show in the Territories. There’s mining opportunities and so on. The bridge, as the Member has mentioned, is one other. Mr. Speaker, those are all possibilities and they’re still being considered with the manufacturer of these convertible houses. The requirement, though, will be that we have an affordable package, and there are still some design issues. We have some requirements for double walls and double floors and so on that the manufacturer has to take into consideration. In the end this has to be a good quality house; it has to be affordable; it has to be a good deal before we’ll consider it. But if there are new mining operations where there are camps, required workforce camps, then, yes, I’m still interested as long as we get a good, affordable, economical housing package out of it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 209-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the last couple of months I was in Tulita and I want to say that to the Premier in support of his government in terms of thanking him in terms of cleaning the uranium contaminated site. People are sure happy in terms of that move, Mr. Speaker. But I also found that the community of Deline is going to be doing some work in the uranium site up at Great Bear Lake and that they’re going to put together a proposal I understand from Dolphus Tutcho, I’m sorry, from the community members in Deline that there may be a process where they could look at this ATCO Novel housing concept as a possible area that they would certainly look at as an opportunity to use. I want to ask the Minister, would he consider giving some discussions with his team in the Housing Corporation to talk to the people, especially the land corporations in Deline, in terms of this type of an opportunity? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 209-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I certainly will. I will be meeting with the Housing Corporation this afternoon in fact and I will raise this one with them. I understand this is a 40-person camp that we’re looking at. It might be one that would work very well, so, Mr. Speaker, yes, the Housing Corporation will go ahead and start talking with the land corporations and others on this project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today as I said earlier, my questions are for Mr. McLeod, the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, and it’s about the senior citizen and disabled persons tax relief program. The municipal council of a tax-based community can, by passing a bylaw, exempt the eligible property of a senior citizen or disabled person from part of the taxes where the senior citizen or disabled person is the owner or part owner of that home. The bylaw sets out the percentage of taxes to be exempted up to a maximum of 50 percent.

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs pays the municipality in an amount equal to the amount specified in the bylaw. The taxpayer has no tax liability with respect to the amount paid by MACA. According to a clause in the Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Tax Relief Act, if a senior or a disabled person is a part owner of a home with someone who is not another senior or another disabled person then they are not eligible for the program.

So my question, Mr. Speaker, is this. In correspondence with the Minister in July 2005 he indicated that the legislation would be reviewed as part of a broader income security reform initiative which I believe is not yet completed. It was also stated that MACA would be undertaking an operational review to ensure the consistency of delivery throughout the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Minister, has this been completed and is there a system in place now that will allow for seniors and people with disabilities to benefit from this program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 210-15(5): Seniors And Disabled Persons Tax Relief Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member from Hay River South has raised this issue on a number of occasions before and given the response of government we have undertaken a review of this whole situation and looked and talked to the different municipalities about how the concerns were in those communities and a review was undertaken. It was incorporated into a larger assessment that is being done and headed up by ECE. That process is in its final stages. We’re expecting to see some of the recommendations and options coming forward along with some of the costing associated with it and we expect to have those for review by December. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 210-15(5): Seniors And Disabled Persons Tax Relief Program

Thank you. The Minister beat me to it by saying I brought this up before. I’ve got a very thick file on this subject here, Mr. Speaker, and the correspondence goes back to letters to Mr. Antoine in the previous government even. I mean it’s been at least 10 years that I’ve been talking about this. This is a good program, the concept is good, but the actual working out of it is kind of untenable. It has for some people who are the would-be recipients of this support to take drastic measures. Like, in instances where one person who is on title is disabled and the other isn’t, where they’ve actually taken the other person’s name off title to get this. There’s not enough support for seniors and persons with disabilities and therefore that’s why this tax relief is so important. So I don’t know what to say, Mr. Speaker. It’s been so long. Will the Minister commit to recognizing that this is a priority? It may seem like a small thing on the government’s agenda, but it’s a huge thing for the people affected by it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 210-15(5): Seniors And Disabled Persons Tax Relief Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is an issue that’s come forward as something that we need to deal with. The initial draft was done I think in 1988. It’s been some time since the act has been replaced and it requires a review. We’ve done that and there are recommendations coming forward recognizing there are discrepancies between the general taxation area and municipal taxation. So there are a number of issues that we have to deal with, and the Member has highlighted some of them here, and we’re hoping to be able to rectify the situation then and maybe look at something that if we’re able to accommodate it by some time this spring. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 210-15(5): Seniors And Disabled Persons Tax Relief Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t really know what else to ask. I just was going to ask, for the benefit of the people in my constituency who are anxious to hear an answer to this question, I was hoping that we were going to hear something earlier than this spring. Let me be clear. Is that when the Minister is going to share with us the recommendations or is that when this matter might be resolved? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 210-15(5): Seniors And Disabled Persons Tax Relief Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that’s when we will have some decisions that we’ll be able to announce in a number of different areas and this is one of the acts that is under review and we will be looking at the options and recommendations come December and we will have some decisions that we will take forward and be able to share in April, hopefully. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m just following up with my Member’s statement with questions to the honourable Premier. Mr. Speaker, my constituents are challenging me to find new ways to deal with the northern employment problem and I believe that we have the solutions and the tools right before us. They’ve always existed and, as I’ve highlighted earlier, is 8.5 in the BHP socio-economic agreement where we have the ability to call upon the diamond mines before us to have discussions regarding training, employment and business opportunities. So the tools have always existed. Now we have the ability to issue warrants to demand that they appear to answer questions, but I don’t think we need to do that, Mr. Speaker. Again, the tools already exist. So I’ve highlighted this clearly. What I’m going to ask the Premier is, recognizing that this problem is a serious issue that northerners take with great concern, recognizing that we have the opportunity before us right now, will the Premier hear the call for action and take the opportunity to call the diamond mine presidents of operating mines before the Assembly process to deal with this problem in some type of partnership? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With each of the mines there is a socio-economic agreement with the GNWT. That socio-economic agreement requires that the mines submit annual, if not semi-annual, reports. Mr. Speaker, I think if the committees within our government have not already done so, and they may have, then I think it’s incumbent upon us to take a look at those socio-economic agreements as a first step and then see where we want to follow up with the mine managers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pretty sure I heard a yes in there, but I’ll ask it again to make sure that we get it absolutely clear on the record. Mr. Speaker, what I’m asking the Premier is, will he work with his resource Minister to call upon the diamond mines presidents to report before the Assembly process to have a question and answer period on this issue whatever process we need to access or vent through, of course? Would he agree to call them before this House and answer questions so we can finally deal with this problem face to face? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me say that my understanding is that the process would be, normally, usually, that we would call witnesses to committee, whether it was GED or AOC or whatever, and then they would respond to issues you’ve raised. Mr. Speaker, I’m not 100 percent sure about calling witnesses before Committee of the Whole, how that works within our rules but, Mr. Speaker, my suggestion that we try to do it through the committee structure first. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. But the answer is yes, we’ll do it one way or the other.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll take that yes whatever way it came. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier agree to write this letter, and copy all Members of this Legislative Assembly, in a timely way so we deal with this problem? So would the Premier write a letter within the next 30 days requesting that the presidents of these diamond mines make themselves available for this Assembly to have this type of question period and discussion period to deal in partnership with this problem? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In order to follow the process as I understand it, I would ask that if there’s interest by the Members that the chair of whichever is the appropriate committee make the request of us and then we would respond, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I see this as a communication opportunity, Mr. Speaker. I see this as an opportunity to be seen to be dealing with this problem, because it is a recognized, serious problem in the Northwest Territories. That’s why I’m asking the Premier. Now, it’s stated in the agreement the resource Minister has the ability to call upon them, but I think a letter from our Premier recognizing the gravity of this problem and his willingness to take leadership, because it affects multiple problems throughout our, sorry, multiple departments throughout our government. So, Mr. Speaker, would the Premier agree to write the letter on behalf of the Assembly to make an acknowledgement of how big of a problem it is and how we want to deal with it in a partnership? Would he do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 211-15(5): Dialogue With Diamond Mines Regarding Employment Targets

Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure that it’s my place to write a letter on behalf of the Legislative Assembly asking someone to come and appear here. I’m the Premier for the government, but I can’t assume over here. So, Mr. Speaker, again I’ll say that I think the proper way of doing it is through the committees and I would urge whichever committee the Members feel is appropriate to do a letter to the Minister responsible, the Minister of ITI or myself, asking that we appear or that we invite the mine managers to appear there. Mr. Speaker, as far as having someone come into Committee of the Whole here, that’s an issue that I think would have to be discussed among all of the Members. I would not want to take that upon myself without consulting with all Members. Thank you.