May
28
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
61
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 27: An Act to Amend the Protection Against Family Violence Act, Carried
Bill 28: An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, No. 2, Deemed Read
Bill 29: First Responders Workers' Compensation Amendment Act, Deemed Read
Bill 30: Supplementary Appropriations Act (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 20252026, Deemed Read
Bill 30: Supplementary Appropriations Act (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 20252026, Carried
Committee Motion 78-20(1): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 340-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2025-2026, Carried
Committee Report 24-20(1): Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2024 Audit of the Stanton Territorial Hospital Renewal Project
Member’s Statement 672-20(1): Cuts to Extended Health Benefits
Member’s Statement 673-20(1): Home Insurance Premium Cost
Member’s Statement 674-20(1): Home Insurance Premium Cost
Member’s Statement 675-20(1): Mackenzie Valley Highway
Member’s Statement 676-20(1): Cost of Electricity for Dehcho Residents
Member’s Statement 677-20(1): Fees Associated with Traditional Use Cabins
Member’s Statement 678-20(1): Independent Living for Men
Member’s Statement 679-20(1): Funding for Jordan’s Principle Program
Member’s Statement 680-20(1): Accountability for Unsheltered Individuals
Member’s Statement 681-20(1): Senior Envoy to Canada
Member’s Statement 682-20(1): Northwest Territories Track and Field Championship 2025
Member’s Statement 683-20(1): Youth Parliamentarian Lauren Tordiff
Member’s Statement 684-20(1): Colin MacPherson, Northwest Territories Parks and Recreation Association Life Member Award Recipient
Minister’s Statement 138-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories’ New Approach to Energy and Climate Change
Minister’s Statement 139-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories’ New Approach to Energy and Climate Change
Minister’s Statement 140-20(1): United Way Annual Workplace Donation Campaign
Minister’s Statement 141-20(1): Update on 2025 Marine Transportation Services Operations
Motion 57-20(1): Supplemental Recommendation of the Integrity Commissioner on Costs in the Complaint Against the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, Carried
Question 733-20(1): Territorial Liquor Store Bidding Process
Question 734-20(1): Drinking Water Lead Contamination at Range Lake North School
Question 735-20(1): Fees for Indigenous and Traditional Use Cabins
Question 736-20(1): Federal Engagement on Jordan’s Principle Program Funding Reductions
Question 737-20(1): Transitional Housing Supports in Small Communities
Question 738-20(1): Home Insurance Supports
Question 739-20(1): Home Insurance Supports
Question 740-20(1): Support for Electricity Costs in Dehcho
Question 741-20(1): Mackenzie Valley Highway Update
Question 742-20(1): Shelter Encampments in Yellowknife
Question 743-20(1): Shelter Encampments in Yellowknife
Question 744-20(1): Prescription Medication Costs for Seniors
Question 745-20(1): Support for Seniors Aging in Place
Question 746-20(1): Mandate Implementation Update
Question 747-20(1): 9-1-1 Service Disruption Update
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 350-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 47-20(1): State of Emergency for Humanitarian Reasons for Norman Wells
Tabled Document 353-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 27: An Act to Amend the Protection Against Family Violence Act
Tabled Document 354-20(1): Inter-Activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025)
Tabled Document 355-20(1): Backgrounder Document for First Responders Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act
Statements

Question 738-20(1): Home Insurance Supports

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance knows that I love data. So can the Minister tell us when an annual report for 2024, which is required by the Insurance Act, will be made public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The insurance license year ends June 30th, so the June 30th, 2024, would be the end of that year. The annual report is then prepared thereafter. We could expect the 2024 Annual Report that gets prepared through the year will then be released in October, so the fall of this year. So roughly fall 2025. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. Can the Minister say whether the 2023 Annual Report, which is already out, takes increases resulting from claims made during the 2023 wildfires and evacuations into its calculations for gross receivable insurance premiums? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is correct, it does. The insurance premium tax that gets paid to the GNWT does take into account any increases in total gross premiums for the calendar year. So the premium tax is three percent on general insurance, one percent on fire insurance, and that is, indeed, based on the previous calendar years' insurance premiums. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Final supplementary. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The superintendent reports on four previous years in each annual report. Can the Minister speak to what percentage increases to insurance premiums that the superintendent is tracking for 2024 or for even into 2025. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, the March 2023 -- or March 2025 year has not yet been completed, Mr. Speaker, but the 2024 amounts are still being finalized, and I can give you an estimate that we're sitting around $6.9 million. That would be 3.6 percent decrease from the 2023 reported premium tax. As I'd said earlier, we are now tabulating 2024. 2025 will be reported in a year -- just over -- just under a year from now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.