Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, first of all, the supp reserve is put in place; for example, in 2004-05 we have established a supp reserve of $20 million. Departments would have to come forward to Cabinet or to FMB and, as the Member stated, plead their case that in fact they don’t have money in the identified area of expenditure. As we approve this budget, departments have allotments for each area of operation, and they are, by our rules, not allowed to spend more than what has been identified. So if a department is aware that they do not have enough, there are a number of things...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to have witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This, in fact, will be included in next year’s mains as they proceed with the full implementation of the recycling program. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 6, an Act to Amend the Payroll Tax Act, 1993 and the Income Tax Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we would have to look at supp No. 1 and No. 2 which are taking up the lion's share of that and what was approved by the previous government as they dealt with those bills. This one, the additional costs as we've laid out are driven by a number of factors, the large majority of that around operations and maintenance, health and justice, as well. We have the details and we can go through it to see what those drivers are. Supp No. 1 and No. 2 came to almost $8 million out of supp No. 1 and another $5 million out of supp No. 2. Again we're coming with...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the work that has been done to date in here is the best work we have available in working with the federal government on the numbers provided, in trying to secure the base that we have of revenue, and ensuring that we can deliver the programs and services we have available to residents today. This is not about getting rich, this is not about enhancing what is there, it is about securing the revenues that we have to date so that we can deliver the programs that we have, and it is about sustainability.

Being a money bill, this is very important to us that...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this is not previously authorized, so it’s adding to the bottom line of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Again, because it was midway through the year, it was felt that they did not have the resources in that activity area. So it came forward and was approved and that’s why it’s in this document. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, I will get more details. But again, if in fact we are using those dollars to contract individuals to do that work on behalf of government, then we will look at doing that as sort of a way of getting the job done. But I am aware that, as well, for those jobs that are vacant there have been a number of attempts to fill them. Unfortunately on a couple of occasions, there were no candidates that were accepted for those positions, so they have looked at going through the process once again. But I will take that concern forward and get...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have with me the secretary to the FMB, Mr. Lew Voytilla.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, again, I would like to thank the Member and all of the Members for their comments regarding the initiative that is before them, and the increase of corporate taxes. I agree, taxes are never popular, and I didn’t take this job with a goal that l would cause an increase in order to provide services to our NWT residents. But after looking at the scenario presented to us and trying to come up with a balance, we have had to wrestle with this, look at our options that we had available in trying to get something in the 2004-05 year. I have heard a lot of...