Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the winter, there were a number of people that I spoke to who were thinking of actually going out this summer on their own to pick mushrooms, but the process needs to be explained: how to dry them, how to clean them, and all that. Will the department ensure that someone is there to pick them up, just to make sure that everything is done properly, and maybe a little short course here in the first part of June once the ferry is open? Mr. Speaker, will the department ensure that that is done? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We would be glad to help the community. This is a new industry in the community, and there is some knowledge that needs to be gained. I will work with my colleague at ITI, and we will see if there are any opportunities for us to collaborate in sending somebody into the community and giving a short course as the Member had asked for. I will work with them. We will see if we can get someone in there as quickly as possible to give a course to the community so, that way, they can go harvest the mushrooms in their riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Lands. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Lands if the terms "tax-based" and "non-tax-based" communities are still being used in the department? I know it is a new department. It may have been used by MACA previously, but I would like to know if the Minister of Lands can tell me if that term is still used in the Lands department. Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Lands.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not aware as to whether the difference between tax- and non-tax-based communities is used in the Lands department. Perhaps the question would be more properly addressed to MACA, but I will check on that. Thank you.
Prior to devolution, April 2014, the federal government had responsibility for the federal lands, or Crown lands, it was referred to as, in which harvesters were on the land with cabins harvesting whatever, whether it be furs or they were hunting or berry-picking or fishing, whatever the people using the cabins were doing. The federal government was not taxing them. I would like to know why the decision was made to start taxing cabins.
I am not aware of the situation when the federal government was in control of those lands referred to by the Member opposite, and I am not certain when a decision was made, if, in fact, there was a change, to tax those lands by the territorial government. I could consult with my confreres in Finance and MACA to determine that, but I wasn't aware of the tax situation prior to devolution.
I would like to ask the Minister of Lands if it would be possible to take all of the tax bills and return them back to the Department of Lands so that department can deal with the individuals. What is happening now, Mr. Speaker, is that it is de-linked because Finance has now taken responsibility for it.
Finance doesn't know the reason why the tax is there, how it built up, nothing at all. All they know is that there is a bill and they are going out to collect it. I would like to know if the Minister of Lands can talk to the Minister of Finance and transfer that responsibility back to Lands so that it can be dealt with from the department, with all of the clients who are now stuck with those huge tax bills that I spoke of in my Member's statement.
I know that there certainly are large tax bills. I became very aware of that on a personal basis when I was out in Behchoko, and many people came to me with large bills that they had received from MACA. I am not certain if I want to bring the responsibility for collecting those back from Finance to Lands, but I will discuss with the Ministers of MACA and Lands these issues.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was more or less asking that the responsibility be brought back to Lands for the purpose of negotiations.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if there was any discussion at all during negotiations about the tax bills, if there is any specific table that he is involved with or his department is involved with on the taxes that are accumulated in the communities by the residents of the non-tax-based communities. Thank you.
Certainly, the issue of taxation of cabins has come up in our discussions with Aboriginal groups, in particular the Metis. I can't speak to how that issue has been dealt with at negotiating tables, because I am not directly involved at that level. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Finance. Earlier today, I spoke about the importance of our relationships with the federal government and strengthening those relationships.
I just want to ask the Minister of Finance: I know that, at some point here in the future, we are going to have to start talking about our territorial financing formula. I would like to ask the Minister: where are we at with that? Are we evaluating that agreement? Are we in talks with the federal government already with regard to re-evaluating our TFF? If we are, what's the update? When will it be concluded? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the discussions on the territorial financing renewal are well-advanced. It is important to remember that this is described in federal legislation, as opposed to an agreement that is negotiated.
Currently, there is a general agreement on a renewal, and the changes proposed by the federal government are minor and relatively technical in nature. We were pleased that there weren't any significant changes that would reduce our grant. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Minister for the reply. Mr. Speaker, we know that we have an infrastructure gap in the Northwest Territories in the billions. Communities have identified a $40 million annual shortfall. As new mines come on stream, some of our old ones are going to start to close. Our own source revenue becomes that much more important to us.
I am wondering if the Minister can let us know: as part of the TFF assessment, is there an opportunity for us to reduce clawback from this agreement so that, when we generate our own source revenue, we're not actually going to see it taken away from us on the other end?
It is important to remember that the formula is designed to fill the gap between expenditure need and our own source revenue. The federal government view is that we are not penalized when the grant goes down if our revenue increases, and as the gap changes between need and own-source revenue, the grant should change. As the Member knows, the formula is very complex, and there are components built in to ensure that we benefit as our tax base expands.
Well then, that means we have to dust off the old plan to make sure that we're looking to grow our population, because that is where it's going to make a difference for us when it comes to the TFF, or the Territorial Financing Formula.
Mr. Speaker, the other question that has been highly debated as it relates to our relationship with the federal government is our agreement to sign on to the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. There were questions earlier today from my colleagues with regard to carbon pricing. Yesterday, we talked in this House about Taltson, and we have a $200,000 commitment that we're going to spend toward pre-planning; $150,000 of that is coming from the federal government.
I would like to ask the Minister: does that mean the federal government is buying in to Taltson, that they believe in Taltson as being a good project that is somehow going to support the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change?
Early indications are, for the federal government, this is one of the projects that meets their vision. When we put a good business case forward, I think the federal government will be receptive to helping us to see this project come to fruition.
It is something that fits into their mandate, and it's something that early indications are they have kind of looked at this project favourably. Whether that translates into significant investment remains to be seen, but we have to ensure that we have a fairly solid business case going forward.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
The Executive's 2030 Energy Strategy and a Climate Change Strategic Framework relies heavily upon greenhouse gas reductions, supposedly resulting from a major expansion of the Taltson hydro-electric system.
Could the Minister describe the phases of the Taltson hydro-electric expansion set out in the 2030 Energy Strategy, including the following:
Identify the timeframes of construction, how each phase of construction will be financed, and to whom will the energy be sold;
Power to be generated and whether any impoundment and/or flooding will occur;
Greenhouse gas reductions anticipated for each of the phases and in which jurisdictions those reductions will take place; and
Anticipated costs for each phase, including a breakdown of hydro facilities, power lines, and related infrastructure, including roads. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Aurora College Foundational Review." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Government House Leader.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "2017-2018 Annual Report on Implementation of the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Business Development and Investment Corporation NWT 2018-19 Corporate Plan." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "2018-19 Corporate Plan - Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, June 1, 2018, I will move the following motion:
I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on June 1, 2018, it shall be adjourned until Thursday, October 11, 2018;
AND FURTHER, that at any time prior to October 11, 2018, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and 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 duly adjourned to that time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the second time. This bill amends the Revolving Funds Act to increase the authorized limit of the Liquor Revolving Fund. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. The motion is carried. Bill 19 has had its second reading. It is now referred to standing committee. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 74(2) and have Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, moved into Committee of the Whole for today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Unanimous consent granted
Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds, is moved into Committee of the Whole for today. Masi. Second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 6, Cannabis Legalization and Regulations Implementation Act; Committee Report 7-18(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations and Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 6: Cannabis Legalization and Regulations Implementation Act; Minister's Statement 1-18(3), North Slave Correctional Complex Inmate Concerns; Minister's Statement 19-18(3), Aurora College Foundational Review Process; and Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act.
