Debates of March 15, 2018 (day 27)

March
15
2018
Session
18th Assembly, 3rd Session
Day
27
Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Word PDF
Members Present
3886
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 12: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operation Expenditures), No. 1, 2018-2019
Bill 12: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2018-2019
Bill 8: Emergency Management Act
Committee Motion 38-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Implementation of Recommendati
Committee Motion 39-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Provision of Departmental Audi
Committee Motion 40-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Standing Committee on Governme
Committee Motion 41-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Acknowledgement and Reference
Committee Motion 42-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Draft Climate Change Strategic
Committee Motion 43-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Draft Knowledge Agenda Action
Committee Motion 44-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Repor
Committee Motion 45-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Ministerial Round Table on Cli
Committee Motion 46-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Development of Procedural Auth
Committee Motion 47-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Fulfilment of Wildlife Managem
Committee Motion 48-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Comprehensive Response to Repo
Member's Statement on 2017 Westminster Workshop for Public Accounts and Canadian Council of Public Accounts Committees Conference
Member's Statement on Arctic Winter Games
Member's Statement on Concerns regarding Government of the Northwest Territories-Sponsored Presenter at AME Round-up Conference
Member's Statement on Legislative Sitting Wrap-Up
Member's Statement on Nezuh Edeheh Gots'endih Youth Conference: Living Well with Oneself
Member's Statement on Preservation of Indigenous Languages
Member's Statement on Snowking's Winter Festival 2018 and Long John Jamboree
Minister's Statement 67-18(3): NWT Manufacturing Strategy – What we Heard
Minister's Statement 68-18(3): Services for Seniors
Motion 14-18(3): Extended Adjournment of the House to May 24, 2018
Motion 15-18(3): Move Committee Report 6-18(3) into Committee of the Whole
Question 268-18(3): Land Tenure Issues
Question 269-18(3): Government of the Northwest Territories Sponsored Speaker at 2018 AME Roundup Conference
Question 270-18(3): Taxation of Student Loans and Grants
Question 271-18(3): Indigenous Languages
Question 272-18(3): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Program for Fuel Tank Replacements
Question 273-18(3): Travel for Elders with Health Issues During Freeze-up and Break-up
Question 274-18(3): Report Card on the Criminal Justice System
Question 275-18(3): Location of New Lands Positions
Question 276-18(3): Government Response to Pilot Shortage
Question 277-18(3): Location of New Lands Positions for 2018-2019
Question 278-18(3): Changes to the Cities, Towns and Villages Act
Question 279-18(3): Differences between Commissioner's Lands and Territorial Lands
Recorded Vote
Return to Written Question 6-18(3): Land Transfers In The Northwest Territories
Tabled Document 151-18(3): Inter-activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1to December 31, 2017) Pursuant to Section 74 of the Financial Administration Act
Tabled Document 152-18(3): Communities and Diamonds Socio-Economic Agreements Annual Report 2017
Tabled Document 155-18(3): Land Transfers in the Northwest Territories: 2010-2011 to 2016-2017
Tabled Document 156-18(3): Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 133-18(3): Chemotherapy Services at Stanton Hospital
Tabled Document 157-18(3): 2017 Westminster Workshop for Public Accounts Committees and Commonwealth Association of Public Accounts Committees Conference
Written Question 10-18(3): Seniors Home Heating Fuel Subsidy Program
Written Question 9-18(3): Societies Eligibility for the Business Incentive Policy
Statements

Written Question 10-18(3): Seniors Home Heating Fuel Subsidy Program

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.