Debates of June 6, 2024 (day 22)

June
6
2024
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
22
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Committee Motion 15-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Leadership, Carried
Committee Motion 16-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Cultural Safety Programming or Training, Carried
Committee Motion 17-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Training Specific to Missing Persons Act, Carried
Committee Motion 18-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Annual Reporting of Statistical Information, Carried
Committee Motion 19-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Titling Bills, Carried
Committee Motion 20-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Sixties Scoop, Carried
Committee Motion 21-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Records Retention and Destruction, Carried
Committee Motion 22-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Persons Not Wanting to be Located, Carried
Committee Motion 23-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Government Response, Carried
Committee Motion 24-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates, Deferral of Department – Infrastructure, Carried
Committee Motion 25-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates, Deferral of Department – Finance Carried
Committee Motion 26-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates, Deferral of Borrowing Plan for the Government Reporting Entity and Established Borrowing Limits for the Government of the Northwest Territories, Carried
Committee Report 3-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Information and Privacy Commissioner
Committee Report 4-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Lanuages Commissioner
Committee Report 5-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission
Committee Report 6-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Ombud and Special Report on Recommendations for Amendments to the Ombud Act
Member’s Statement 250-20(1): Blood Cancer Services
Member’s Statement 251-20(1): Congratulations to Graduates
Member’s Statement 252-20(1): Food Mail Program
Member’s Statement 253-20(1): School Attendance
Member’s Statement 254-20(1): Life Promotion and Harm Reduction Youth Conference in Tulita
Member’s Statement 255-20(1): Renewable Diesel
Member’s Statement 256-20(1): Innovation in Housing
Member’s Statement 257-20(1): Happy Birthday to jackson Bowden
Member’s Statement 258-20(1): Retirement of Corinne Sassie
Member’s Statement 259-20(1): Nutrition North Program
Minister’s Statement 46-20(1): 80th Anniversary of D-Day
Minister’s Statement 47-20(1): Strengthening GNWT Supports for NWT Artists
Minister’s Statement 48-20(1): Update on Key Strategic Infrastructure Projects
Motion 31-20(1): Cross-Border Crime Reduction Forum, Carried
Motion 33-20(1): Municipal Funding Gap
Question 251-20(1): Blood Cancer Services
Question 252-20(1): Renewable Diesel
Question 253-20(1): Future of Rockhill Property
Question 254-20(1): High Cost of Food in Northwest Territories
Question 255-20(1): Youth Support Funding Sources
Question 256-20(1): Nutrition North Program
Question 257-20(1): Attendance Rates in Small Communities
Question 258-20(1): Basic Income
Question 259-20(1): Fee Holiday for Dwellings in Communities
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 112-20(1): Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 163-20(1): Supports Available for Residents of Enterprise
Statements

Question 259-20(1): Fee Holiday for Dwellings in Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up on my Member's statement on the other side of the equation, which first I mentioned I was going to go to housing, now I'm going back to Municipal and Community Affairs with respect to the ideas of creating a fee or tax holiday.

So I proposed ideas in the statement to bring forward to NWTAC. And perhaps maybe the MACA Minister can help lead this initiative. I know tax themselves is for the finance Minister, but this is about working with initiatives for municipalities under municipal legislation.

So the question specifically is to the Minister is would the Minister be open to a discussion to explore the idea to help create housing opportunities by talking to NWTAC about generating a tax or fee holiday for appropriate builds to stimulate the economy to build apartments and multidwelling housing? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not a hundred percent sure if this fully aligns in my department, but I will definitely look into it and go to the department to see if we can reach out to NWTAC to have this discussion.

I guess the only other question I have, maybe just to close it off, is would the Minister be willing to sit down with me and some others to talk about what it could look like and maybe he could become the champion of the concept as we explore an idea? Whether it goes to fruition or not is something completely different. And as I stress, Mr. Speaker, as I finish, not in isolation, in other words, without good consultation. So would the Minister be willing to do that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm always willing on working with the Regular Members to come up with solutions for problems that we may be having, so open to the discussion and we can arrange something. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Oral questions. Written questions.