David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Clause by clause. Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, Clause 1.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again I’ll ask the question. How come northern manufacturers were not consulted in this process? I know the Minister spoke of contacting different boards and agencies from across the North and I’m just wondering, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister supply us with who was contacted and when they were contacted? As I see it, the northern manufacturing industry here in the Northwest Territories was not contacted. So please, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide us with the information on who was contacted and when they were contacted? Thank you.

Does the committee agree that Bill 2 is ready for third reading?

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to utilize my Member’s statement today so that I can again bring up a topic that has been heavily discussed in this House over the last week. The topic is the tender for 22 mobile homes, which are to be sent to various communities throughout the Territories. The tender was issued by the Housing Corporation and closes this Friday, April 2nd.

Mr. Speaker, I have some very serious concerns with the evolution of this tender, the decision-making process on how and why the business incentive policy was waived on this has not, to date, been fully explained to this...

Clause 3.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I could, I can agree with the Minister on the upper tax bracket maybe being somewhat difficult to pin a figure on because there really is no upper limit to that. But as some Members tried to equate this tax increase, especially for the second highest bracket, to a box of doughnuts, I think that's not right and it's sending the wrong message out to the taxpayers in that bracket. On average, Mr. Chairman, they're going to be seeing an increase of close to $70. So it's not a box of doughnuts, it's a utility bill, Mr. Chairman. I think the residents of the...

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Just to clarify, Ms. Lee's comments do not conclude the discussion on this item, so to the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Lee.