EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I do understand that you can’t do it overnight or anything, but could you at least commit to finding a way of giving the $400 so it’s tax-free in the same method as you give the $500 for the fuel tax?
Mr. Speaker, the $400/month is not a universal benefit. It’s only for the Government of Nunavut employees. As such, the Canada Revenue Agency requires it be taxed as a taxable benefit.
So I’m like everybody else and that we follow the rules of the Government of Canada when it comes to taxes.
Will the minister at least look at maybe upping the amount to the point where at least the employees are going to net to $400?
Mr. Speaker, that program was a program that was introduced in Budget 2008.
It was a very worthy program. It was introduced at time when house prices were skyrocketing and fuel costs were edging up.
Mr. Speaker, over 2009, we lowered fuel prices, we introduced a one-time $400 homeowner fuel rebate, and we increased it to a one-time $500 rebate to encourage Nunavummiut to apply for the $500.
I think the deadline is August 31 of this year.
Mr. Speaker, I believe this government has taken measures to help all homeowners in Nunavut and I hope that satisfies Mr. Schell.
I do appreciate the $500 subsidy and the $400 subsidy.
My question is: are you willing to look at increasing it in the future so it’s a little bit closer to what the employees who are living in subsidized are getting? I realized the government’s got limited funds, but if you could at least increase it to the point where the employee is going to at least net $400 out of it.
I thank Mr. Schell for asking some good questions.
We know that the cost of living is very high in Nunavut. This government and the previous governments have lobbied the federal government very strenuously to help Nunavummiut.
We passed a motion in the Second Assembly on the Northern Residents Deduction.
The cost of living is very high in Nunavut, Mr. Speaker, but in this case, as I indicated in my earlier answer to Mr. Schell, something like this would have to be discussed in the context of the overall collective bargaining process.
Question 282 – 3(2): Renewal of Driver’s Licences (Ningeongan)
I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, the Hon. Peter Taptuna.
On December 10, 2008, the government announced the introduction for a new driver’s licence for Nunavummiut.
At that time, the government announced that “the new documents are processed using a new system that will be supported and maintained in all 25 communities with driver and vehicle licensing offices… they will be available in all communities by the end of March 2009.”
Can the minister indicate if the introduction of these new driver’s licences has been on schedule?
Minster of Economic Development and Transportation, Hon. Peter Taptuna.
In early 2009, the procedure was rolled out into the communities for every member. The government is committed to having all Nunavummiut able to travel freely within Canada using these new driver’s licences and general identification cards.
The process was actually started, yes, as the member stated, in December of 2008.
I can’t really say how the process has been going, but one of the things that we put in there was the computer-generated automated system of generating these… the processing and the applications for Nunavummiut.
I have been hearing concerns from constituents that they have encountered delays in getting their licences renewed. In some cases, I have heard of delays up to six or eight months.
Is the department aware of problems in processing renewals in different communities and if so, what is it doing about this problem?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I thank the member for that question.
The delay of six or eight months, to me, as minister responsible for that, is rather unacceptable.
That’s a lot of time for some of these individuals who are trying to access and get their driver’s licence and general identification cards.
These cards are required for travelling anywhere in Canada if you’re 12 years old and over. To travel in Canada, you need these identification cards for security purposes and these cards meet all of those requirements.
I will check with my staff to see what the delays are and if it’s in the procedures of delivering the program. If it’s just on an individual basis, where there are just a few individuals who are delayed for certain unknown reasons to me but are known to the department, we will check that out. If there are a lot of delays in a high number of individuals, I’ll have my staff check and possibly adjust their process and procedures in getting the program delivered out to Nunavummiut.
In the last Legislative Assembly, the Department of Economic Development and Transportation received $800,000 in capital funding to implement the new driver’s licence system.
The new licences incorporated advanced security features that meet international standards, as indicated.
Can the minister indicate whether the new driver’s licences are physically produced in each of our 25 communities or only in some communities, such as Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay?
The documents are produced in Ottawa, the Bank Note [Company] of Canada. They’re not produced up here. For the security features that are necessary, the Canada Bank Note [Company] is producing these cards for Nunavummiut.
I, too, have the privilege of having such a licence now and it took about two months for me to receive that one, a renewal.
Can the minister indicate approximately how many of the new driver’s licences have been issued to Nunavummiut since they were introduced?
I thank the member for that question. We’re still celebrating.
We received an international award for the best design in security for the general identification card and the driver’s licence. Once the celebration stops, I’ll get the numbers so I can make that available to the member.
Question 283 – 3(2): DFAIT News Release - Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Elliott)
My questions are directed towards the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Hon. Tagak Curley.
Mr. Speaker, on March 11, there was a press release from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.
It’s quoted here as saying, “With the support of all provinces and territories, the Government of Canada has ratified the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”
I know with the Government of Nunavut not wanting to offend and break laws, such as the World Trade Organization on different moratoriums and stuff, I was wondering if the minister could explain. It says further, “Provinces and territorial governments were consulted.” Could the minister explain how his department was consulted on this?
I think it would help if the member could provide the same copy to the House so that we can be aware of exactly what the document he alludes to. I don’t have it with me.
I don’t think it’s taken as notice, but if I ask any more questions, he will say he wants to see the document.
So what I’ll do is I’ll try and get a clean copy because I have written all over mine, and I’ll try and table it so that he can actually read it over.
The House will be waiting for you to table the document.
Question 284 – 3(2): Two Percent Payroll Tax (Schell)
I had some questions for the housing minister but he is not here, so I’m going to have to pick on the finance minister again.
This is a question in regard to the question I had asked earlier about the 2 percent payroll tax.
When will the minister provide a proper credit to all residents who are currently paying the 2 percent payroll tax but are only receiving a $1,200 credit back?
In some cases, our residents are paying an extra $1,500 a year but they are not receiving credit back.
This tax is supposed to be a tax on southerners working here in our territory, not a tax on our residents.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud Mr. Schell for standing up for the workers of Nunavut. Mr. Schell, that tax was implemented many years ago on transient workers and I believe, Mr. Speaker, there is a rebate through the Canada Revenue Agency’s tax process.
There is a rebate on it for $1,200, but in some cases, employees are paying as much as $2,700.
In other words, there is $1,500 a year that they’re not getting back.
So my question is: when is he going to make it in such a way that all northern residents who file northern income tax forms will get their total 2 percent back?
Mr. Speaker, there are no immediate plans to do what Mr. Schell has requested. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Can the minister explain why he is not looking into it?
It’s a very good question, Mr. Speaker.
Again, this is a tax that somebody implemented very many years ago through the Northwest Territories.
It has been discussed numerous times since April 1, 1999.
We have worked with the Canada Revenue Agency, Mr. Speaker, and over $9 million is rebated to Nunavummiut through this tax.
Has the minister maybe thought of anybody who is filing in the north for income tax shouldn’t be charged that 2 percent to start with and that would eliminate the issue?
I am a taxpayer as well. I remember when that tax came in many years ago when we were still part of the Northwest Territories and I wasn’t particularly pleased with it. It was an interesting tax.
I can tell Mr. Schell that we can look into it.
Again, it’s something that does provide revenues to the government. Those revenues are used for programs that we fund as a government, including programs in all members’ constituencies. As I said earlier, a lot of the money, over $9 million, is rebated to Nunavummiut and the remainder goes to the programs and services that we have to deliver as a government.
Again, as a taxpayer, I’m always interested in trying not to pay more taxes myself, so this is something we can look into, but I can’t guarantee or commit that there are going to be any changes.
Question 285 – 3(2): Legality of Two Percent Payroll Tax (Arvaluk)
I just want to get clarification for my fellow colleague here from South Baffin.
Isn’t it illegal not to rebate the full 2 percent to residents of Nunavut?
I thank Mr. Arvaluk for that question.
I do not believe it’s illegal.
Well, I was in Yellowknife when that was introduced and I think it was 1 percent at the time, but the spirit and intent of this payroll tax was to tax those who were not living in the NWT but were receiving services and other kinds from the NWT government.
That was their contribution. It was not to tax NWT residents; they would pay the tax for now but they would get all of the percentage back that they had paid for.
Now, I’m hearing from my fellow colleagues that that’s not the case.
They only get part of the 2 percent for those who are paying higher taxes with a larger salary.
Why isn’t this being adjusted so that all of the residents get the full 2 percent back?
Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Arvaluk indicated, it started in the Government of the Northwest Territories at the time at 1 percent and then it was increased to 2 percent.
Mr. Speaker, it’s not a secret that this 2 percent tax has been around for years.
I’m surprised that Mr. Arvaluk is unaware that not everybody was getting rebated their full 2 percent.
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier to Mr. Schell, over $9 million is rebated to Nunavummiut and the balance goes to fund programs and services that this government and this Assembly delivers to all Nunavummiut.
I’m very confused now because the whole idea was not to tax, money-wise, Nunavummiut or NWT residents but rather, they would pay the percentage and then get all of their percentage back.
That’s not the case apparently and I trusted the government so much that I never checked it.
Mr. Speaker, I’m upset that the spirit and intent of the law is not being practiced.
Can the minister then assure the House that a full review will be done and recommendations will be made to the House?
I again thank Mr. Arvaluk for so staunchly standing up for the employees of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I know nobody likes to pay taxes. Most of us don’t.
We certainly don’t like to pay more taxes than what we have to pay.
But Mr. Speaker, over $7 million of pay roll taxes go to programs and services that the government delivers, that the Members of the Legislative Assembly want delivered in their communities or riding.
I, as the Minister of Finance and a resident of Nunavut, have no problems paying a little bit extra tax to help people in Nunavut.
I hope that all Members of this House feel that same way.
However, I find it very interesting that the whole idea of this payroll tax was to tax those who are not residents of Nunavut, who are working up here and they have a home down south.
The purpose was not to tax the residents of the NWT or Nunavummiut later on at which we grandfathered this program.
Will the minister then, for the purpose of honouring the spirit and intent of this law, the payroll tax, review and report to this committee with recommendations on how to make it legal for residents to be taxed out of the payroll tax or remove them from participation?
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Finance is constantly reviewing programs and services and taxes that we have to collect and remit to the Government of Canada.
As I indicated in answer to Mr. Schell’s question, this is something we can look at.
I can’t guarantee any positive changes, but it might be helpful to understand where the tax came from, why it was 1 percent initially, and why it is 2 percent.
I know payroll taxes have come up in the context of consultants from the south that come up here to work and not having to pay payroll tax. We have discussed that in the past.
Again, if this is an issue that members feel passionate about, we can certainly have our officials, when time permits, look into it and report back to the committee.
Question 286 – 3(2): Outcome of Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (Elliott)
My questions are directed to the Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
I’ll keep Mr. Okalik’s written question here so I don’t make the mistake of asking the same question.
In regard to her recent visit with other ministers to Copenhagen, I’m just wondering if the minister could explain what some of the specific outcomes were from this trip.
When we went to Copenhagen, it was very important because we were invited as Canadian representatives.
We covered various issues and also met with high-level individuals in the government.
I also made a presentation to a forum where ICC was given an opportunity to talk about Nunavut-specific issues with regard to climate change.
I made various presentations at different venues.
During Mr. Prentice’s luncheon, I made a presentation as a Nunavut representative and I was given an opportunity to make a presentation on behalf of the three territories, Nunavut, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.
I was their representative.
I was wondering if the Minister could explain: did she speak directly to the issue of global warming?
Minister Aariak.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I touched on important subjects regarding climate change.
We, in the circumpolar countries, are the first affected by climate change.
We do not contribute much to pollution, but we feel the effects, such as changing ice conditions and global warming to some extent.
We also focused on infrastructure issues that could help us in dealing with climate change.
For example, we use fossil fuels exclusively to heat our homes and for transportation.
We’re looking at alternative energy sources such as hydro, wind, and solar energy.
Clean energy is all around us.
In order to harness these energy sources, we will need funds to develop them.
I thought it was very important to get that message out to Canadians and to the international world.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks for that response.
With some of the concerns that we have up in the High Arctic, and Mr. Arvaluk has mentioned in the past about the Baffin Bay and the problems that we’re having with polar bears and polar bear habitat, I know a lot of constituents in my community get very frustrated with the fact that it seems like, by no cause of their own or nothing they’ve done, they’re actually having to suffer because of outside forces.
So it’s nice to know that the Premier was over there supporting issues like that.
Will there be a formal report for this trip and the contingent that went over to Copenhagen?
I can make the information available.
Could the Premier commit to tabling it in the House once it’s finished?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Item 7.
Tabled Document 129 – 3(2): Canada Ratifies United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Elliott)
I wish to table today an official announcement by the Government of Canada dated March 11, 2010.
The announcement indicates that the federal government has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with and I quote, “the support of all provinces and territories.”
I am a bit surprised that our government may not be aware that it has supported this federal decision.
Tabled Document 130 – 3(2): The Pangnirtung Tapestry Studio Collection (Komoartok)
I wish to table a copy of the Pangnirtung Tapestry Studio Collection Catalogue.
Earlier today, I referred to the accomplishments of the weavers at the studio in my community.
I would like to share this catalogue which represents several tapestries that were created at the Pangnirtung Tapestry Studio since 1990.
You can call there and see if you can get some work commissioned or get more information on the Uqqurmiut Arts Centre in Pangnirtung. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 131 – 3(2): Recruitment and Retention of Inuit Nurses in Nunavut (Elliott)
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table today a copy of the document prepared by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. It’s on the recruitment and retention of Inuit nurses in Nunavut.
Bill 15 – Legal Treatment of Apologies Act – Notice
Bill 16 – An Act to Amend the Judicature Act – Notice
Bill 17 – Justice Statutes Amendment Act – Notice
Bill 25 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 – Notice
Bill 26 – Securities Transfer Act – Notice
I have five notices of motions for first reading of bills and I’ll read them in order.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, that Bill 15, the Legal Treatment of Apologies Act, be read for the first time.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act, be read for the first time.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, that Bill 17, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the first time.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, that Bill 25, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2010, be read for the first time.
And finally, Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, that Bill 26, the Securities Transfer Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 20 – An Act to Amend Certain Acts Related to the Education Act – Notice
I give notice that on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, that Bill 20, An Act to Amend Certain Acts Related to the Education Act, be read for the first time.
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Hon. Tagak Curley.
Bill 27 – An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act – Notice
I also give notice that on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, that Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, be read for the first time.
>>House recessed at 15:00 and Committee resumed at 15:27
We would like to continue with the review of Bill 22 and the main estimates for the fiscal year 2010-11. This afternoon, we will continue with the review of Department of Community and Government Services, followed by the Nunavut Housing Corporation. If time permits, we will commence the review of the Department of Justice.
Are we in agreement that we continue with the main estimates for Community and Government Services?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister, for the record, please introduce your witnesses.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Good day.
To my left is Deputy Minister Kathleen Lausman and to my right is Director of Financial Services Alma Power.
Committee members, (interpretation) as you will recall, we completed J-6. (interpretation ends) J-7.
Branch Summary. Community and Government Services. Protection Services.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $5,606,000. Mr. Ningark.
On page J-7, under the Grants and Contributions line item, I have no idea what this is for.
I believe that search and rescue teams in the communities still lack resources needed when they are essential and beneficial to our communities.
Do you provide financial support services to them?
I wouldn’t know this as I haven’t been a hamlet council member since 1989.
Is the Grants and Contributions line item used for community search and rescue?
Yes, these funds are set aside for training search and rescue personnel under the Municipal Training Organization.
When a search and rescue effort is underway in a community, we also provide funding to assist the search and rescue teams in the communities when they are actually conducting searches.
With respect to Canadian sovereignty, the Conservative government, through the Canadian Coast Guard, is spearheading some initiatives to conduct more exercises that showcase our ownership of the Arctic.
Can we expect any new search and rescue helicopter teams to be assigned year-round to Nunavut some time down the road?
I believe that the Conservative government is working hard to demonstrate its sovereignty over the Canadian Arctic, judging from the recent announcements made about docks and small craft harbours that will be constructed in Nunavut.
I wonder who to ask about these issues, Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Ningark. (interpretation) I know what he’s talking about is a capital item, but Minister Kusugak, if you would like to respond.
I cannot speak for the Conservative government in terms of their position on the construction of docks, but in terms of our position, we haven’t even discussed building a site to accommodate new helicopters.
For that matter, we have no idea what the Conservative government is thinking.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): Obviously, as voters, we try to keep tabs on what the government is doing for Nunavut.
I thank the minister for advising me of that.
I don’t think I have any further comments to make either.
However, with respect to the local search and rescue teams, it would be great to be able to give them more assistance for the hard work they do.
I know that they have been equipped with the SPOT devices, which assist hunters, and I thank the minister for that initiative.
It is prudent to try and assist the local search and rescue teams as they are our local partners.
We support them in various ways, such as sending equipment to some communities, such as those six-wheeled vehicles.
When we can offer assistance materially, we try to do so to the best of our abilities.
We have also tried to assist our hunters, especially to have the SPOT devices available for hunters to sign out and use. I have one of those models. It would make everyone’s job easier if the hunters were to go and pick these up prior to their trips.
The technology can be useful only if the hunters utilize them.
When hunters have that technology, it makes the job of the search and rescue teams a lot easier.
The technology cannot work if you just leave it on the shelf, so we urge all hunters to take advantage of the technology while they are available.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also wish to thank the minister for his response.
Although he is referring to another model, he mentioned the Argos, which can have six or eight wheels.
With respect to that particular comment, a question just arose which assists me in my line of questioning.
I would like to mention another vehicle, namely, hovercraft. I have received correspondence about this type of vehicle, perhaps it was this summer.
What I was wondering was if the minister has had an opportunity to research the hovercraft models. They hover just above the ground or water.