Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I once again rise on a point of order under 23(k) and (l).
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in this House you ruled on a point of order that I raised in this House last week, in which you found that I did have a point of order and Mr. Hawkins was asked to withdraw his comments.
It has come to my attention and I am rising on the first available opportunity and I will table this document at the appropriate time today. It has come to my attention that a Facebook electronic missive was sent out of this House literally minutes after your ruling, that says, “Well, the NWT Speaker ruled against me and he felt my words were too harsh for the Minister of Health.
“First off, I am happy to withdraw them fully. But it should be said it is difficult, if not enormously challenging not to be passionate about the job we are doing here. And when the Minister cannot do his job, I question why they are left there at the cost of all Northerners.
“One serious challenge for me is, should it not be my job to call the Minister out when he won’t or cannot do his job.”
Those are direct references, once again, that you ruled and required a withdrawal. He closes by saying, “And at the same time, isn’t it in many ways the greater crime to ignore that fact.” which I would only take as a reference to the ruling.
Mr. Speaker, the point of order is I see this missive as no different than a note, where in the past notes have been written in the House and it becomes public and gets tabled. This one, we have on one hand Mr. Hawkins speaking in this House saying he withdraws his comments and apologizes, and then in this House he sends out a Facebook that
basically repudiates that and, in fact, challenges the findings of the ruling.
I believe the point of order is still relevant because when you look at these two contradictory messages in the same period of time in this House, one of them is accurate and one of them is not. I think this type of technology, this type of communication now is going to be a challenge for us. In this case, I believe Mr. Hawkins still has to clarify whether, in fact, he does withdraw his comments, given his mixed messages here that he’s sending, one saying yes, one saying no and, not only that, but challenging the ruling of the Chair. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. I will allow Mr. Hawkins to reply to Mr. Miltenberger’s point of order. Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the job that the House Leader has to do and I say that with great respect. He’s doing his job. As far as his challenge under 23(k) and (l), I think he’s in error and I’ll say why.
In the House yesterday, I will quote from unedited Hansard, “That was my intent when I said I apologize to this House sincerely and fully, and with that, I withdraw my remarks. My apologies for missing that last piece.” Of course, it also goes on, “It was not intended in any other manner.”
Yesterday I pointed out to the public who’s following this particular issue, yes, I did post on Facebook, so I will take ownership of that. That’s the only way to do this. One must be accountable. Mr. Speaker, I pointed out, following one of the posts by our NWT politics sites, which I attached there, to help explain it further, appreciate or understand my perspective. So, Mr. Speaker, I, first off, am happy to withdraw them fully and that’s where I explained the remarks. What I do now is further elaborate to explain to people the enormous challenges about being passionate in this job. Of course, I explain the serious challenge before this particular thing which has led us to these problems.
In this Chamber, I fully respect this ruling, I did so and will continue to do so. In this House you will continue to hear that in the context of how I phrase my words, my statements and my questions. I believe it’s an illusion to say I am attempting to challenge the Speaker’s ruling. I once again say I am respecting your ruling.
I feel that my job is to get out there and communicate why and what has led us to this ruling issued by you, and again, I respect it. The public has a right to know and they are concerned and they are contacting me and they demand that I continue accountability with this government well within the rules and your oversight.
If I do not do my job, which is demand accountability by people, it makes it very challenging for why they sent me and many other of my colleagues here. Expressing my opinion outside the venue of this House does not contradict your point of view, it further explains what has led me to why I took the statements I made last a week and I continue to accept your ruling and decision of them. It doesn’t change my internal passion for the job and, yes, it is challenging to do this job. Sometimes you get heated under the collar, but nothing has changed since yesterday, which is I fully accept your opinion and your direction to this House and your ruling. That said, I was trying to help people understand what passion and energy had led me to where I was.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I am not going to allow debate on this issue. I’m going to take it under advisement and I will bring it forward to the House more than likely tomorrow or the next day. Thank you, colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, shortly after taking office, as we considered the economic opportunities, realities and challenges that lay ahead for our territory, the 17th Assembly highlighted the need for a comprehensive strategy to guide our economy though this time of unprecedented political and economic change. Today I am pleased to inform Members that the Governance Committee has completed an Economic Opportunities Strategy for the NWT, which I will be tabling later today.
The settlement of land claims, self-government agreements, and especially the pending devolution of governance responsibilities for lands and resources will soon give our territory a greater degree of self-reliance and decision-making.
Further, the lingering impacts of a world-wide economic recession and the finite nature of our territory’s diamond mining sector underscore the need for a made-in the-NWT approach to guide and increase economic growth, diversity and certainty. Economic opportunities are the key to getting our people working, freeing them from poverty and helping them to reach their full potential.
This NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy has been created with the direct input of NWT residents, governments, organizations, industries and businesses. The drafting of the final strategy has been overseen by the Strategy Governance Committee, which is a collaborative partnership with the NWT Association of Communities, the NWT Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Aboriginal Business Association, Canada’s Northern Economic Development Agency and the GNWT.
The strategy gives particular attention to tourism, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and the traditional economy; it provides a plan to grow and diversify the NWT economy, creating an environment in which our residents can envision, pursue and realize their economic opportunities at the grassroots level. These benefits will carry over into all of our communities and regions, resulting in an enhanced quality of life for our residents.
To build this vibrant economy, we will need to secure its foundation in resource investment and population growth. Our territory’s people and communities must be prepared to maximize the benefits of the incredible economic opportunities that lay ahead. This will be achieved, in part, by the Mineral Development Strategy that will also be released within a couple of weeks.
The Economic Opportunities Strategy is built on four themes, each a cornerstone for a 10-year approach to building our economy: A Climate for Growth, Building on our Success, Regional Diversification, and ensuring our people are “Opportunity Ready.”
Each theme identifies targets and objectives. From these, the Governance Committee has recommended 117 actions to fulfill the vision of a strategy that will guide the development and realization of economic potential in all regions of the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, as much as this strategy document reflects the completion of a critical planning process, it also marks the beginning of a longer-term plan to address and deliver its actions. We are already working on the GNWT’s implementation plan to get this strategy in motion.
Federal transfer payments and the resource royalties the Government of the Northwest Territories will receive through devolution depend greatly on the size of the territorial economy.
We need to grow and diversify the economy to help ensure that sustainable resource development benefits our people well into the future and supports long-term prosperity for the entire territory. We have great potential here in the North, but we cannot take that potential for granted. To maximize the opportunities in front of us, we need the kind of vision this plan sets out for creating a robust economy that all residents can benefit from.
I would like to thank the members of the Governance Committee, the project’s advisory panel and the many NWT residents who have informed and contributed to the development of the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy. I look forward to updating this House on its ongoing implementation and success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for the Anti-Poverty Strategy, Mr. Abernethy.
Mr. Speaker, one of the goals this Assembly set out to achieve almost two years ago is a healthy, educated people free from poverty. To move towards this goal, the Premier committed to the development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy.
In June I had the pleasure of tabling Building on the Strengths of Northerners: A Strategic Framework Toward the Elimination of Poverty in the NWT. This framework provides a roadmap for us to work in collaboration with our partners, to eliminate poverty in our communities.
The development of this document was a joint effort led by a steering committee made up of representatives of the private sector, NGOs and governments. It incorporates input received during several years of consultation across the North, and reflects the complexity of poverty and its links to the social determinants of health. The framework targets five priority areas, with a focus on children and families, healthy living, safe and affordable housing, sustainable communities and better integration of services.
The development of this framework was merely the starting point for our efforts to eliminate poverty in the NWT. We are now at the stage where we must develop and implement comprehensive action plans.
Work on this has begun. My colleagues in the social envelope and I are working together to develop an integrated, cross-departmental government action plan that will pull together the actions already being taken by all departments as well as identify further actions needed and funding required. This comprehensive plan will be ready for presentation to this Assembly in the new year.
But the elimination of poverty is not a goal that can be achieved by government alone. We need to work with communities, Aboriginal governments and non-government organizations, as well as the private sector, to develop a truly comprehensive, territorial action plan. To kick-start this work I will host a roundtable next month to which representatives of all sectors will be invited.
None of us have identical goals. All governments and agencies have different mandates and priorities, but we have more in common than we have differences. We can see where we might work together to achieve our common goals and identify steps each of us can take. We’ll start there. Together, we will set shared actions and ensure long-term benefits for all our people. Government alone cannot eliminate poverty, but if each of us commits to doing whatever we can within our respective mandates, I am confident we will succeed.
Many groups and communities are already working towards our shared goal of elimination of poverty. I recently had the honour of speaking at a workshop designed for communities and non-government organizations to share their ideas, challenges and successes in addressing poverty. This workshop was organized by the No Place for Poverty Coalition with financial support from the Government of the Northwest Territories. It brought together over 50 people from across the NWT, all of whom had experience in living with poverty or dealing with its impact. This gathering is a demonstration of the commitment of many people to our shared goal, and conclusions and recommendations from the workshop will be brought forward for consideration at the November roundtable.
Mr. Speaker, together we can build a strong, sustainable future for our territory. I look forward to continuing to work with Members of this Assembly, Aboriginal and community governments, NGOs and representatives of business and industry as we develop, and then implement, a comprehensive action plan that will move us closer to our goal of a truly poverty-free territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mr. Speaker, this Assembly is committed to a goal of healthy, educated people free from poverty. Improving the health status of the Aboriginal population in the Northwest Territories is one way the Department of Health and Social Services is accomplishing that goal.
Clearly, if we want to make meaningful change, we have to focus our efforts on the areas of greatest need. We must stop designing “one size fits all” solutions and start listening to communities about what will work.
Aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories are suffering from an increased burden of chronic diseases and the trends are worsening. Their cancer rates are higher, Type 2 Diabetes is a growing concern, and they are more likely to be hospitalized for mental health or addictions-related issues.
It is a sad fact that 95 percent of the children in foster care in the Northwest Territories are Aboriginal. These are troubling statistics and we must take action to improve the health of our Aboriginal residents. We know that better promotion of healthy lifestyles is one of the keys to improving this situation. It is obvious to me that we must change the way we do business in order to effectively reach out to our residents.
We need to develop prevention and promotion programs that will be effective and culturally respectful.
We need to work with our health centres to create a welcoming environment where Aboriginal people feel respected and supported.
Mr. Speaker, our new Aboriginal health and community wellness division is working towards that goal. We are changing the way we do business.
Regionally-based community wellness planners will be working more closely with community groups and Aboriginal governments to help them identify their priorities and develop appropriate responses. This helps provide better programming and is consistent with the government’s Aboriginal Engagement Strategy.
Prevention and promotion experts will provide support to community wellness plans. We will put less emphasis on mass-producing posters in English and more emphasis on helping communities to use the most effective tools to reach people.
I will enhance the mandate of Stanton’s Elders Council so that their valuable expertise may provide guidance in developing territory-wide solutions.
By exploring how to make our system more responsive to Aboriginal patients and clients, we also create the potential to incorporate traditional healing into primary care.
Mr. Speaker, the government cannot make people healthy by itself. People also have to take responsibility for their own health by making good decisions and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Eating well, getting exercise, not smoking and avoiding alcohol abuse are steps that every individual can take to improve their health. With the assistance of the many programs and services this government provides and our new approach to doing business, people have a lot of power to choose lives free from disease and illness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On the housing front, the Nahendeh region is one of the regions in the Northwest Territories with the highest core need. Housing needs are evaluated in terms of suitability, adequacy and affordability. Suitability means having the appropriate number of bedrooms for the number of occupants; adequacy means running water, indoor plumbing, and isn’t in need of major repairs; affordability means that housing costs consumes less than 30 percent of the household income. A dwelling with problems in two or more of these areas – suitability, adequacy and affordability – gets placed in the core needs category.
Mr. Speaker, as of 2009, when the most recent housing survey was released, 35 percent of the homes in the Nahendeh region fell into a core needs category. For hundreds of my constituents, this housing situation is really grim.
A related problem is there are only a few family violence shelters to serve the entire Northwest Territories. Many women are trying to escape bad relationships, but because they can’t find safe, transitional housing, they end up back with their abusive partners.
The ugliest side of the housing crisis is homelessness. Homelessness leaves people in a constant state of stress; it’s linked to higher rates of unemployment, substance abuse and suicide. Homeless people are at higher risk of contracting HIV infection, Hepatitis C and sexually transmitted diseases.
Taken together, homelessness and inadequate housing are also significant barriers for people attempting to recover from addictions. It is often impossible to find suitable accommodations where they won’t be exposed to destructive activities and get sucked back into addictive lifestyles.
Whether we are considering Fort Simpson, Fort Liard or the smallest of my communities, there just aren’t enough shelters or other measures to provide relief. To be sure, the Housing Corporation is making great strides to improve public housing and respond to homelessness, but I would like to see facilities for homelessness and transitional housing for Nahendeh.
I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the government, we continue to try to regulate rather than make common sense. I am talking about getting our elders their traditional foods in our health centres and facilities, like serving fish, moose or caribou, or even a rabbit at our health facilities. Mr. Speaker, our elders are starving for their God-given foods. I want to state why we are falling short in helping our elders and how we can help in the long run.
What are our policies about serving Aboriginal traditional foods to our elders in our health facilities? It is reported that at one time we had 65 percent of patients at Stanton Hospital that were Aboriginal. Some long-term care facilities are struggling to serve Aboriginal foods.
Aboriginal foods to our elders is like fish to water. They need it to survive. It’s part of who they are. Mr. Speaker, there is a solution. Vital Abel Home or the Larga Home can help with this problem. We can have Vital Abel or Larga be the place where Aboriginal traditional foods can be cooked and delivered to Stanton or Aven Manor in Yellowknife. Communities can donate fish and meat to these centres.
Mr. Speaker, we need to do the right thing. Feed the elders. It is not too much to ask for all that they have done for us and continue to do for us. I ask this Minister and this government to commit to an action plan that will have traditional foods served up to 90 percent in our health facilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk today about us politicians. Obviously, nowadays there’s quite a bit of controversy in the political news about politicians and some of us politicians are all being painted with the same brush.
I want the NWT public to know that, as Members here, we hold our jobs very seriously and the accountability that we hold is to a very high standard. When I first got here at this job a couple of years ago, I found out the NWT has some of the most stringent regulations for expenditures for MLAs. Our regulations require all MLAs to go through all our purchases and be vetted through corporate services. We have to account for all and get approval before we spend any money related to our constituency budgets.
When I first got here, I found this very cumbersome. I found it frustrating, but now I know these rules and regulations are in place to protect us Members, but also to ensure the integrity of this Legislative Assembly.
All MLAs must complete an annual residency assessment. That, as well, is held in high standard in the country. Corporate services attends annual events and often gets requests from jurisdictions to see our regulations both on our expenditures and the residency assessment, Mr. Speaker.
I know the politicians’ expenditures are a hot topic around the water coolers and at the coffee shops, but I just want our constituents to know that the NWT Legislative Assembly has some of the most stringent regulations in place and that we hold these regulations in high regard, not only for our Members but also for the public’s expenditures. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last Saturday night the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce named Det’on Cho Corporation Business of the Year.
---Applause
Thank you, colleagues. This comes right after another achievement. In June, Profit Magazine included the Det’on Cho Corporation on its list of the 500 fastest growing Canadian businesses.
Twenty-five years ago, Det’on Cho started out with a $15,000 grant. Over the last five years, their revenues have nearly quadrupled and they now have four fully owned subsidiaries and interest in 12 other local businesses. The company directly employed more than 360 workers this summer. Perhaps most impressive is that nearly 90 percent of their employees are from the North. That is more than double what the diamond mines are reporting. Det’on Cho is showing that a northern business with northern employees can be successful. And all those northern employees are contributing to our community, not only through the income taxes they pay but by shopping locally, volunteering and raising their families here.
Det’on Cho’s most recent project, the 5.9 kilometre bypass around Giant Mine, is being technically challenging and its completion will be an impressive achievement. It has been a great opportunity to enhance local technical capacity, such as with the intersection with Highway No. 3, and the design and construction of a bridge over Baker Creek. They have provided work opportunity for 11 northern companies on the project. The bypass road is expected to open in time for the winter road traffic. Given that the highway travels over the height of land in the area, I look forward to being able to see the entire Weledeh riding spread out before me.
The success of the Det’on Cho Corporation says a lot about the leadership they have. CEO Roy Erasmus Jr. has put a lot of passion and energy into it and the results speak for themselves. Congratulations to Yellowknives Dene First Nations, Roy and all the Northerners who work at Det’on Cho. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past weekend the Sport North Federation held a coaching and volunteer symposium with representation from all across the Northwest Territories. The theme was Every Step Counts. Coaches and volunteers are the backbone of our communities, our regions and our territory. They are also strong role models, mentors and even counsellors. I applaud Sport North and their efforts in supporting and building the capacity within our communities and our people, our coaches and our volunteers.
The symposium focused on physical activity and nutrition as well as, in team management, team dynamics and other fundamental and advanced coaching techniques and tools. I was also very pleased to see a session that was focused on disabilities and inclusion in sports.
Although I was not able to attend, I do appreciate that the coaches and volunteers took time out of their busy schedules, as well as their personal lives, to work and continue to hone their skills for the benefits of people of the Northwest Territories.
At this time I would just like to appreciate and recognize the dedication, hard work and commitment of all our volunteers and coaches across the Northwest Territories as well as the Sport North Federation and what they have demonstrated over the years in the development of northern coaches, volunteers and athletes. Although Sport North did put this symposium on, it is a collaborative approach in building the capacity in our communities and the people of the Northwest Territories. We have a lot of great organizations out there that are putting in the efforts to building capacity in the community and also increasing our skills and skill sets that will enhance our youth as well as our elders and people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk today about something announced recently by our Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Glen Abernethy. On October 23rd, in a press release, Mr. Abernethy laid out a new Regional Recruitment Program. If I could just briefly quote from the press release: “The GNWT actively recruits Northerners to fill vacant positions, especially in the regions. At any given time there are approximately 150 to 200 vacant regional positions available within all departments, boards and agencies in communities. The Regional Recruitment Program will assist to place Northerners into these vacancies. This program is a tool that will help with decentralization efforts.”
I would like to applaud the Minister for this announcement and for this program because, as you know, the MLAs for Hay River at least, are extremely interested in government positions in regional centres. It’s one of our favourite topics lately.
Later today I’m going to have some questions for the Minister of Human Resources about how that vacancy rate compares in the regions compared to in headquarters. I also have an idea that I would like to throw out there that has to do with regional positions.
Quite often, when we talk about decentralization, we hear about deputy ministers and senior departmental staff getting together and trying to imagine or think of activities, positions, secretariats, government activity that can be decentralized to the regions. I have an idea that might help in this effort. The conventional thinking is that nobody would want to leave Yellowknife to go to a regional centre. That’s the thinking that’s out there, and that’s, I think, the thinking of the bureaucracy. Like, oh, we could never force people to move to a community like Hay River. So here’s my idea: Why don’t we survey people who are working at headquarters, who might be interested, who might confidentially share, through a survey, that they might be interested in going to a regional centre?
When you look around the public service in Yellowknife, my gosh, it has to be a collection of people who originated from a lot of these regional centres and they may have family ties, connections, traditional activities that they used to be involved in, perhaps in the region that they came from. So I think we should ask them. Rather than trying to do everything from the top down, perhaps we should survey the employees themselves and find out people who might be interested in relocating, with the job that they have, to a regional centre. That’s just a suggestion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve heard a lot about fracking in the last few weeks and months, and I haven’t had much to say to date, but I feel it’s time for me to speak out.
I have been following the statements and exchanges in the House, the media reports and so on. The Economic Development and Infrastructure committee has been at the forefront of the fracking issue for the House, doing the research, considering the pros and cons, and monitoring the exploration and development in the Sahtu. I’ve tried to stay abreast of the info flowing to and from the committee, but it’s a challenge, given my other committee work.
As of today, I’m not sure where I stand on this issue. I’m not sure if I support fracking or oppose it. I know that the Sahtu and the NWT need an economic shot in the arm and I know that the proposed development in the Sahtu will provide that boost and I’m not against development, but I do believe, very strongly, that it must be controlled development. The pace of development must be a measured and a conservative one. The all-out do-it-all do-it-now approach that apparently is happening in the area of the Bakken shale deposits scares me. I do not want that kind of development for my territory.
As well, I have a major concern with the lack of knowledge about our subsurface environment in the area where fracking will occur, particularly our lack of analysis of aquifers. Our water tables are unknown and unmapped. Fracking will have two huge impacts on our water supply: the amount of water used in, or needed for, the fracking process and the potential contamination of our groundwater through the injection of the used fracking water back underground.
We don’t get a do-over on our land, Mr. Speaker. If we use it up or contaminate it, it’s gone forever.
Another major concern for me is just what contaminants or chemicals will be used in the fracking process. Current regulations don’t require full disclosure of the products used. The companies have promised they will disclose, but without any legal requirement to do so, how can we be sure they will?
This government must do everything it can to put those requirements in place so we can effectively control the environmental liabilities which can result from fracking.
In my mind, there is the potential for the Sahtu to become a situation akin to Yellowknife’s Giant Mine, a monstrous environmental liability. Let’s not go there. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, the Anne Buggins Wellness Centre on the reserve was named after the respected elder, known for her strong spiritual leadership. Public health, home care and social services staff are no longer cramming the band office. They now have a modern facility to work in, which offers a more comfortable environment for community residents seeking treatment.
I want to congratulate Chief Roy Fabian and the people of the K’atlodeeche First Nation for their vision and hard work, which helped this community wellness centre become a reality. The wellness centre stands as a model of how governments can work together for the good of their people. We need more cooperation like this.
As an MLA, it is distressing for me to hear my constituents say there are people who struggle on the reserve while people across the river, in town, enjoy easy access and benefits of our government. Perception is reality, and the people of K’atlodeeche First Nation do not enjoy the same quality of service as other NWT residents because they are governed under different legislation.
The Hay River Reserve was created under the Indian Act of 1974, which means that the people of the KFN have a different relationship with the federal government. Although the KFN is the key governing body of the reserve, there is a confusing mix of jurisdiction between the GNWT and the federal government and the K’atlodeeche First Nation. While preliminary discussions have been underway since 2005, the K’atlodeeche First Nation is in limbo. It is time to fast-track this process and put greater control in the hands of the K’atlodeeche First Nation to govern their own people so that they can see more success like the Anne Buggins Wellness Centre. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank our Minister of Finance for going into the communities with his recent round of budget dialogue with Northerners. I am pleased that his open and honest approach with residents on how we should deal with our devolution monies and our Heritage Fund has been discussed. But – and this is where I depart from the mild-mannered Member for Range Lake – I am extremely disappointed and, most of all, infuriated at this same Minister who in last night’s budget dialogue with Yellowknife residents refused to take responsibility in responding to the question if we were capturing our fair share of economic rent for what we call, sometimes in this House, resource taxation, or commonly known as mining tax.
Before I go on my rant, let’s back up the bus first. The Department of Finance back in 2009 concluded that any such extra tax would be viewed as a double taxation. To that, I say hogwash. Then they proceeded to say such tax would be a disincentive to new resource development. I only need to say two things: Danny Williams and Newfoundland. Enough said.
Finally, my favourite, that this new resource revenue sharing with the federal government would be strained. This is where I yawn. That’s what I put in my Member’s statement.
The GNWT currently collects a corporate tax, a fuel tax, a property tax and a payroll tax from mining companies. While most provinces levy a mining tax in addition to the basic royalty rate, the NWT chooses not to. This is a fail. This mining tax is a standard practice in many jurisdictions and there is absolutely no reason to believe that such a tax would cause the mineral industry to suddenly stop exploring profitable opportunities in the NWT to favour other areas. Let’s face it, our first two major diamond mines were able to pay off their capital construction costs in less than three years, and with both of these mines net profiting over $37 billion annually, I hardly believe they would be poverty stricken with a mineral tax.
Furthermore, we have a golden opportunity if the GNWT would institute, today, a new mineral tax. Even with devolution, these revenues would not be clawed back. The territorial funding formula provides incentives for the GNWT to raise as much revenues as possible on its own. Any new revenues from new taxes are exempt from clawbacks for at least one year and after this period, 30 percent of the revenue raising ability is exempt.
This is a windfall, but the clock is ticking.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
The public owns its mineral resources on Crown land in the NWT. Our job, government’s job, the Department of Finance’s job and the Minister of Finance’s job is to capture a fair share of economic rent from mineral companies to ensure the public is appropriately compensated and that companies have fair returns.
Clearly, someone in this government didn’t get this memo and it’s clear that this current government is leaving money on the table at a time when they preach fiscal responsibility and accountability. This is shameful. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said yesterday, Yellowknife is number one; the Northwest Territories is number one. What was that again? We’re number one. Power rates continue to be the highest.
If you take 1,000 kilowatts here in Yellowknife, you have to pay over $300; 1,000 kilowatts in Iqaluit, $275. We continue to be number one and we get dwarfed by Whitehorse where a thousand kilowatts only charges you $146. We’re number one, thanks to the Premier in his old job when he re-engineered the power rates. He engineered the communities’ rates, which I am certainly happy that he did help them, because as I said yesterday, if you’re not on the hydro, I don’t know how you afford your power bill. But why didn’t we engineer some of Yellowknife power rates like we did?
We must find a way to make the cost of living liveable here in the Northwest Territories, certainly here in Yellowknife. It’s not an insurmountable problem. Find a way. Rather than being bureaucrats sitting on the seven stumps across the way, let’s be politicians, let’s be daring, let’s connect with our constituents on issues that matter to them. Even in talking to the Economic Opportunities Strategy, the Governance Council even recognized the fact that power rates hold Yellowknife back. It is seen as a negative, certainly not as a positive.
Thirty cents per kilowatt cannot help sustain our population. They cannot help the everyday blue collar worker. The working family suffers from this day after day after day as they try to get by. We’ve heard about rising fuel prices. No action. We need these costs of our power to come down to what is considered normal. Why spend millions and millions of dollars and on Come Make Your Mark? Who wants to live here at 30-some cents a kilowatt? People are leaving. The exit sign is certainly getting well used. I have heard this from countless people who leave the Northwest Territories because they can be paid the same types of dollars elsewhere and certainly cut their cost of living easily in half. Every day we struggle. Every day working families struggle because of the cost of living. It is time we stop talking about this and demonstrate that as politicians we’re willing to do something.
I started off by saying we are number one. Yes, we beat Whitehorse, we beat Iqaluit and we lost 83 people from last year’s census third quarter. We peaked out. We lost 83 people since then and people are leaving. Why? Because the cost of living is killing Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s time to do something.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few people in the gallery I would like to recognize today. Earlier today we had a press conference releasing the Economic Opportunities Strategy. With us today in the gallery we have Kathy Gray, the president of the NWT Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Kevin Lewis, the regional director with CanNor; and also a former mayor of Yellowknife, Gord Van Tighem, a member of the advisory panel. Welcome, folks.
Also with them is Ms. Kelly Kaylo, the assistant deputy minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. I also want to recognize my colleague over in the Yukon Territory, the Honourable Wade Istchenko. He’s the MLA for Kluane and also the Minister of Highways and Public Works with the Yukon government. Welcome.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to recognize a couple of constituents of mine, Elizabeth Anne Mackay from Fort Resolution and her daughter Karen Lafferty from Hay River. Thank you.
