Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to introduce Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act. This bill will increase the dividend tax credit on dividends received from large corporations, effective the 2006 tax year.

Dividends paid by public corporations and large Canadian-controlled private corporations have incurred double taxation under the existing federal and NWT Income Tax Acts. The higher dividend tax credit will reduce the personal taxes individuals pay on taxable dividends.

The proposed change will parallel measures announced in the May 2006 federal budget, which were introduced...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the way our program works is all individuals are required to register for health care services in the Northwest Territories. Those who receive non-insured health benefits receive over and above what other residents do receive. It's a staged program. So all people would be registered in the Northwest Territories and would end up falling under this category. I can get further detail to the Member if that's required. Thank you.

Sorry, Mr. Chairman, I'd have to hear that question again.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the direction was given to live within the budget and that's the intent and that's the work that's being done, is to do the work that's necessary within the budget. We're waiting for our final layout as to what renovation will be taking place, and then I can come back to this House with further information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the treatment centre is, as the Member pointed out, a decision was made to relocate and look at one of our existing facilities in the community of Hay River for a renovation projection. We've worked with the Department of Public Works and Services on a cost analysis of that, and it was decided, after a second review of that, that we would proceed with a renovation of that facility and are continuing to work with the Department of Public Works and Services to come up with some final options on that. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Income Tax Act to reflect and address proposed changes to the Income Tax Act (Canada) that would lower the income tax rate on large corporation dividends received by Canadians. The bill would lower the Northwest Territories income tax rate on those dividends. The bill would not come into force unless the proposed amendments to the Income Tax Act (Canada) come into force. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2006-2007, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware that, within the department and our hiring practices, we have tried to come up with some unique ideas or processes of coming up with nurses. Part of the problem is because there is such a large vacancy rate that occurred at one point, we had to come up with this idea. In fact, I believe before we, as we now term it "agency nurses," that was some of the practices that came in place with individuals. Of course, in a work environment, when you find that there is a large demand, there is also the other side of the equation that comes into play where they then...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the area of nurse pay or bonus systems, the government has, in the past, worked with the union and internally to come up with a system. It was put in place. It was there for a short period, trying to encourage the nurses to stay in the North. As well, part of the bonus was to reward them for their years of service. That worked for a little while, but we found as well that, in some cases, as we no sooner made the payment to some of the individuals, they left the Northwest Territories. So it didn’t quite work out how it was designed. We have tried...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of developing that policy. In fact, in my Minister’s statement here I’d provided sort of a framework as to where we’re going and some of the questions we have to ask and some of the partners that we need to work with; for example, our community leaders and aboriginal leaders, as well as our business leaders. In fact, in November as we’re going out to start this leg of the work, going to meet with those groups to begin to put the framework together. Of course we’re always ready to meet with Members and go through that process as well...