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Legislative Assembly Briefs

Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 11/01) - What does the Department of Transportation have to hide?

North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty said chief coroner Percy Kinney was told to file an access to information request when, during an investigating a fatal accident on Highway 3, he asked to see the department's maintenance records for the highway.

Minister Vince Steen said he would look into the matter, but the department's highways director said Lafferty's got it all wrong.

"I don't know where that came from," said Rob Nelson. "Maintenance records are available for the coroner anytime he wants."

They weren't when the investigation was being conducted, said Kinney. He said when no response was received to an initial request for the records another was made.

Uncertain whether the records were public or not, the official fielding the second request chose to err well on the side of caution and suggested an access to information request be filed.

Tax break no break at all

Calling tax credits "discriminatory," Tu Nedhe Steven Nitah asked what help with the cost-of-living the government had to offer those who do not file tax returns.

Finance Minister Joe Handley last week announced the government would counter higher prices expected to result from the proposed highway toll by increasing the cost-of-living tax credit by up to $177.

Nitah asked if the government would consider providing a rebate instead of increasing the tax credit.

Handley said a rebate would be "incredibly expensive" and difficult to administer, considering the government does not have mailing addresses for all NWT residents and no way of verifying those claiming the credit qualified for it.

A department official said government numbers indicate there are few people in the North who do not file tax returns.

In 1999, 26,800 tax returns were filed by NWT residents. The population that year was 28,000.

Rough media relations

Relations between CBC and Mackenzie-Delta MLA David Krutko took a dip Friday.

Immediately after the assembly closed for the week at noon Friday, Krutko warned a CBC television reporter, "Just keep doing it and you might have a lawsuit on your hands!" and stormed off.

The television station alleged Krutko is not eligible for housing expenses he is claiming.

Energetic day

In one of their occasional concerted efforts, regular MLAs focused on energy issues Thursday. Most of the questions put to the government related to statements on the issue made by premier Steven Kakfwi in his sessional statement.

Kakfwi announced he will be heading up an energy secretariat, a small group that will work with aboriginal governments and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive NWT energy strategy.

Though urged by Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent to develop the strategy within a year, Kakfwi refused to commit to any deadline, but said he aims to have the secretariat staffed by the end of July and report on its progress in the fall.