Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.

AuthorRonna Bremer

The Third Session of the 13th Assembly reconvened May 1 with the release of Building a Foundation for the Future: The Northwest Territories' Agenda for Change. The 19-page document outlines the Government and Legislative Assembly's blueprint to 1999. The report clearly identified 10 priorities for the Territorial Government and includes a method for evaluating progress throughout the process.

May 2 was budget day in the Territories with the release of Finance Minister John Todd's first budget and the first budget of the 13th Assembly. The release of the Capital and Operating and Maintenance budgets was delayed to allow new MLAs an opportunity to have input into the budget and the cutbacks necessary to eliminate the deficit.

Mr. Todd started his Budget Address by saying the government has to change the way it does business and that would mean reductions in all areas. He said with the changes proposed in the 1996-97 budget the deficit would be $43 million rather than the projected $150 million, leading to a balanced budget in 1997-98.

The $1.2 billion spending plan for 1996-97, down $70 million from those forecast a year earlier, also included a number of new initiatives aimed at diversifying the Northwest Territories' economy. Some of the new initiatives introduced in the budget include a $5 million Community Initiative Program, establishing creative partnerships with aboriginal groups, businesses and other levels of government and $5 million to set up a Mortgage and Loan Company.

In his Budget Address, Mr. Todd said the Northwest Territories is open for business and will do all it can to attract new dollars to the territory. There were no new taxes or tax increases announced in the budget.

In conjunction with the passing of the 1996-97 Capital and Operating and Maintenance budgets, the Legislative Assembly also passed Bill 10, The Budget Measures Implementation Act. This Bill made legislative changes -- amending several Acts and repealing two others -- necessary to implement the budget and help the government meet its financial targets.

Legislation

Numerous bills also received passage in the May sitting including the first Private Members Bill of the 13th Assembly. Yellowknife North MLA Roy Erasmus brought forward Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act. The amendment requires motorists to use headlights or daytime running lights of a vehicle at all times. Other legislation that received passage included:

* Appropriation Act...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT