Bill 1 has had first reading.
---Carried
Item 19, second reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to proceed with the second reading of Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Petroleum Products Tax Act to replace the defined term “motor vehicle” with the new defined term “mobile machine” and to provide for application and commencement matters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bill 1 has had second reading.
---Carried
The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 1 moved into Committee of the Whole for today. Thank you.
Bill 1 will be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration today.
---Unanimous consent granted.
Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 1-16(4), NWT Capital Estimates 2010-2011; Tabled Document 18-16(4), Supplementary Appropriation No. 2 (Operations Expenditures), 2009-2010; Tabled Document 19-16(4), Supplementary Appropriation No. 3 (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2009-2010; Committee Report 1-16(4), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Annual Reports; Committee Report 2-16(4), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Auditor General on Contracting for Goods and Services in the Northwest Territories; and Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act, with Mr. Krutko in the chair.
I call Committee of the Whole to order. We have several items in Committee of the Whole: Tabled Document 1-16(4), Tabled Document 18-16(4), Tabled Document 19-16(4), Committee Report 1-16(4), Committee Report 2-16(4), and Bill 1. What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The wish of the committee today is to deal with Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Does committee agree?
Agreed.
With that, we will deal with Bill 1. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the bill if he has some general comments. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to introduce Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act. This bill will address the ambiguity with the definition of the type of equipment that is subject to the motive diesel tax rate when consuming diesel fuel in its operation.
The new definition will clarify the intent of the Petroleum Products Tax Act that, with some exceptions, the motive diesel tax rate applies to all mechanical mobile contrivances including motor vehicles, cranes, excavators, backhoes, and drills on tracks if they are self-propelled when powered by diesel fuel.
The proposed amendment will be retroactive to 1991 and will come into force immediately upon assent.
Although not commonly used by the NWT, retroactive legislation of this nature has been used in similar circumstances in other jurisdictions in Canada.
This amendment is a very narrow one, focussing on one very specific issue. We recognize that the Petroleum Products Tax Act is a very old act, requiring review and updating to reflect the current environment. Work is ongoing in this regard. Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening remarks. Thank you.
I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to bring in any witnesses.
Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Does the committee agree that the Minister brings in his witnesses?
Agreed.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witness in.
At this time, I would like to ask the Minister to introduce his witnesses. Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Margaret Melhorn, deputy minister of Finance; Mark Aitken, director of legislation, Department of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. Are there any general comments in regards to Bill 1? Detail?
Agreed.
If I can ask Members to turn to page 1 of the bill.
Agreed.
Clause 1.
---Clauses 1 through 4 inclusive approved.
To the bill as a whole.
Agreed.
Does committee agree that Bill 1 is ready for third reading?
---Bill 1 as a whole approved for third reading.
Bill 1 is now ready for third reading. Thank you. I would like to thank the Minister and his witnesses. What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.
Mr. Chairman, I move that we report progress.
---Carried
Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please? Mr. Krutko.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act. I would like to report that Bill 1 is ready for third reading. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. A motion is on the floor. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
---Carried
Item 22, third reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to proceed with third reading of Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bill 1 has had third reading.
---Carried
Please be seated. Monsieur le president, monsieur le premier ministre, messieurs et mesdames les deputes, mesdames et messieurs, et amis, friends, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Premier and Members of the Legislative Assembly.
As Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I am pleased to asset to the following bill:
Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act
Thank you, merci, quanami, mahsi cho.
---Applause
Orders of the day for Wednesday, October 28th, 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Tabled Document 1-16(4), NWT Capital Estimates 2010-2011
Tabled Document 18-16(4), Supplementary Appropriation No. 2 (Operations Expenditures), 2009-2010
Tabled Document 19-16(4), Supplementary Appropriation No. 3 (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2009-2010
Committee Report 1-16(4), Report on the Review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Annual Reports
Committee Report 2-16(4), Report on the Review of the Auditor General on Contracting for Goods and Services in the Northwest Territories
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Wednesday, October 28th, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 15:29 p.m.
