Debates of March 15, 2018 (day 27)

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the updates. Now that the legislative process can continue, I am assuming that the Minister can assure me that this legislation will come forward in the May-June sitting. Can she do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As presented in our original presentation on this act to the standing committee, we are still on track with that. Once the standing committee reviews the legislative proposal and permits their feedback, then I will give drafting instructions, and if there are no major glitches, then this will continue as provided, and so it will be brought forward in the May session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not going to go onto that lease issue, because we could be here for another year dealing with it, and we would like to get it moved forward.

My next set of questions are to the Minister of Lands, and it's a follow-up from the first set of questions that I had for him when we talk about territorial and Commissioner's lands. It is my understanding that the calculations are different for territorial and Commissioner's lands. Can the Minister explain why there are two different calculations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Lands.

Yes, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. They are different, as the Member opposite has mentioned. Part of that is for historical reasons. One of them is based on the pre-devolution federal approached pricing, which we inherited, of course, in 2014, and one is our territorial approach on pricing.

The differences in lot pricing have become evident since 2014 and the creation of the Department of Lands. We are aware of the differences, and hopefully the differences will be less. As Members know, we are implementing an $840 minimum so that there will be a similarity between the minimum rates on the leases. Thank you.

I thank the Minister for that answer. Mr. Speaker, is the department looking at harmonizing the Commissioner's land and the territorial land together, and if so, when?

As Members will know, the territorial and commissioner's lands are already managed by one department. I thought initially that we could have one act, but that seemed to be too complicated or too difficult. However, we are hoping to harmonize the two acts, and as I say, we have made the change in the minimum rates, which does harmonize the two acts.

I thank the Minister for that answer. Mr. Speaker, if a constituent has arrears, does the department have a plan that can help them get in good standings, or is legal action that is threatened in the courts, is that still going to be moving forward?

The Department of Lands will and does work with lessees who are less than 90 days in arrears. However, once it reaches that point, they can work with the Department of Finance.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that brief explanation. My next question, Mr. Speaker, is in regard to the residents who are part of the Dehcho First Nation process of the Acho Dene First Nation process. Does the department recognize this and honour it, and if they do, will they remove the threat of legal action until both are resolved? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Government of the Northwest Territories and the Department of Lands recognizes and honours the land claim process as of the First Nations of the Northwest Territories. While these negotiations are taking place, the administration and control of land is in these areas that aren't federal remains a responsibility of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Further, the department consults with the Indigenous governments on any land administration actions in accordance with our procedures with respect to the Interim Measures Agreements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is Societies Eligibility for the Business Incentive Policy. Would the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment please provide the following information?

It appears that the Business Incentive Policy (BIP) as is currently applied may compromise an incorporated society's right to "have all the powers, rights and immunities vested by law in a corporation," as provided by section 4(2) of the Societies Act. Please explain this possible infringement of a legal right by the Business Incentive Policy.

Some societies carry out small business activities, may hold a legitimate business license and meet the requirement of section 6(e) of the Business Incentive Policy. Please describe the process for such a society to become BIP-registered.

If the Minister is of the position that societies are not BIP-eligible, please provide options for a policy amendment to enable preference for incorporated societies to participate in sectors of our economy often neglected by currently registered small businesses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Written questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have five written questions today for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. They relate specifically to the changes, to the Seniors Home Heating Subsidy program. In the Minister's statement on March 6, 2018, he announced updates and changes to this program, but the guidelines currently published on the department's website are from June of 2016.

The Minister announced increases in the income threshold to determine eligibility and the amount of the subsidy. Can the Minister explain the details of the changes in eligibility to the Seniors Home Heating Subsidy, specifically how are the income thresholds and income limits going to change?

Changing to a monetary-based subsidy could conceivably make the value of the subsidy subject to market changes in the price of fuel. Can the Minister explain the rationale for changing to a monetary-based subsidy and how it will avoid a scenario where seniors are exposed to cost fluctuations?

Under a monetary-based subsidy, the government will provide funding to suppliers of fuels, who will track the deliveries to consumers. How will the change to a monetary-based subsidy affect consumers who want to access two or three types of fuel, such as a homeowner who uses both heating fuel and wood or pellets?

The level of subsidy is partly determined by a zone system. Can the Minister explain if the zone system for communities has changed, and what the rationale was for making this change?

Last, the Minister announced that the program will now be extended to renters, not just homeowners. Can the Minister explain how the Seniors Home Heating Subsidy will apply to seniors who rent their homes?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to the Written Question 6-18(3) asked by the Member for Kam Lake on February 23, 2018 to the Minister of Justice, regarding land transfers in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, information on the number of land transfers by year and community, including the associated dollar value of those land transfers, has been compiled for the period covering 2010-2011 to 2016-2017. Detailed information prior to 2010-2011 is not electronically available and would require time-consuming and labour-intensive analysis and verification to compile.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the document entitled "Land Transfers in the Northwest Territories: 2010-11 to 2016-17." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Inter-Activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1 to December 31, 2017)." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents entitled "Northwest Territories Coroner Service 2016 Annual Report"; "NTPC Capital Adjustments 2017-2018 Budget"; and, further to my Return to Written Question 6-18(3), a document entitled "Land Transfers in the Northwest Territories: 2010-2011 to 2016 -2017." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Communities and Diamonds Socio-Economic Agreements Annual Report 2017." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Follow-Up Letter to Oral Question 133-18(3): Chemotherapy Services at Stanton Hospital." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table the following document, "2017 Westminster Workshop for Public Accounts and CAPAC Conference." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, May 25, 2018, I will move the following motion: I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Committee Report 6-18 (3), Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General on Climate in the Northwest Territories, be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration;

AND FURTHER, notwithstanding Rule 49, that Committee Report 6-18 (3): Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration today.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I move, seconded by the honourable Member from Great Slave, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on March 15, 2018, it shall be adjourned until Thursday, May 24, 2018. And further, that if at any time prior to May 24, 2018, the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice, and shall transact its business as it has been dually adjourned to that date. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

The motion is carried. Masi. Motions. Member for Kam Lake.