Michael Miltenberger

As the Minister from ITI has pointed out, there were meetings held with the mines -- BHP, Diavik and De Beers -- about the MOU. One of the best ways is going to be what the mines have committed to doing, which is limiting the incentives for flying south. The pickup points are only going to be in the North, keeping in mind, then, that it’s going to be the responsibility of communities that are going to be possibly places where these folks will stay. They have to make sure that they have housing available should these folks that fly in say that now they are prepared to live in the North, be it...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are committed to bringing forward a proposal for a heritage fund. We know that from some quarters there is an interest in a resource tax. We have indicated that we’re looking at tax shifting at this point, given that we’re still in a recession that while there are some weak signs of recovery, it’s not clear that we’re on the way out and that we don’t have anything further to worry about. But we have committed, as a result of our roundtable, to do work on a resource tax, and look at the feedback we’ve received and put a discussion paper out there so that we could...

As the Member noted, when the House puts its mind to issues of legislation, be it the Petroleum Products Act or in other legislation like the Family Violence Act, things can move relatively quickly. It would depend on the advice we get from the Legislative committee, if there’s a piece of legislation that can be adapted and modified to the Northwest Territories without rewriting right from scratch. But I think it’s an issue that if the will of the House is such, that could be looked at. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government is taking a two-track approach to this particular issue. The amendments to the Dog Act are being worked on, there’s a legislative proposal expected in November that will be ready by a review by committee and, hopefully, introduction in the winter session. That will give some immediate relief and more authority to the people dealing with issues of animal cruelty. At the same time, Justice is at work doing the necessary preliminary work on a whole new piece of legislation for animal cruelty, keeping in mind that our legislative cycle takes, on average...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the Legislative Assembly that at the appropriate time later today I will be tabling the Department of Finance’s Strategic Action Plan 2009-2012.

This document is the first strategic plan for the new Department of Finance, which was created on April 1st of this year by combining the previous Department of Finance and the Financial Management Board Secretariat. It is a milestone in that it represents the first strategic plan for a central agency department in this government.

The new department’s role in this government is multi-faceted. As a central agency, it...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Government of the Northwest Territories will employ all the contracting standards and regulations that are there to promote maximum northern involvement in all these projects. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Margaret Melhorn, deputy minister of Finance; Russ Neudorf, deputy minister of Transportation.

When the Member mentions leading the charge, of course, I think of the charge of the Light Brigade into the Valley of Death of 600. But, yes, we will play a leadership role and we will pull together an integrated comprehensive package, recognizing that some work will get done in time for this budget, but any significant restructuring of our tax system is going to take time to do the work and the consultations and hopefully reaching consensus, so that if it’s not ready for this budget, it will be ready for the budget of ‘11-’12.

We would be prepared to look at all of the suggestions. I am not prepared to negotiate the contents of the upcoming budget in the House. At this point, there have been lots of recommendations made. We are looking at trying to maintain tax levels, so we are looking at things like tax shifting, recognizing, as well, it’s a delicate balancing act.

The other concern is if you continue to raise taxes at the high income level as well, you have trouble attracting people when they look at the tax regime and where is the best place for them to come and provide their services. We recognize the pressures...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.