Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, I don’t have an exact figure, but it would be millions of dollars. The Member for Kam Lake had some numbers that he has used, but it is a significant amount of money. It is leakage south that we want to try to capture and keep in the North.

WHEREAS the Supplementary Appropriation No. 2, 2008–2009 document has been tabled in this House;

AND WHEREAS the supplementary appropriation document requires detailed consideration;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Tabled Document 75-16(2), Supplementary Appropriation No. 2, 2008–2009, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration.

Mr. Speaker, clearly — clearly — that’s an option: for the government to buy into business. Of course, first we need to have the money to do the investment. We have a limit here of $500 million, but we are looking at all the options, and we want to be as creative as possible. We’re interested in setting up, as the Members pushed for it since the last Assembly as well, things like a heritage fund that will allow us to plan for the future. Clearly, we want to look at all the opportunities that are out there, but we are limited by the funds and resources we have available, in addition to trying...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, October 3, 2008, I will move the following motion.

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Tabled Document 75-16(2), Supplementary Appropriation No. 2, 2008–2009, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Mr. Speaker, we look forward to working with the Members, the committee members. There’s been a clear signal that they would like to have Members on the refocusing committee because of the issue with boards and agencies, because of the program review issues. We’ve laid out the work to date. Funds have been voted. There’s been a five member staff that’s been put together. We’re working out a work plan. Clearly, this is a complex issue as you start looking at analyzing and doing zero based reviews and program reviews. There are some very big pieces of government out there. We look forward to...

We will come forward with the full package for committee’s review, what we think is viable and what we think is not. We’re going to come forward with the options in terms of being able to, we believe, grow the population in a modest but significant way that’s going to add to our economic base over time.

In addition, we’re going to come forward, as Members know, with year 2 of the reduction exercise. We’re prepared, and we’re going to have that full discussion with committee, looking for their advice and feedback.

I’ve been Finance Minister for July, August, September, two months of which the Member was on holidays and I was working. But rest assured, Mr. Speaker, the intent is…. I’ll ask the Member for some indulgence here, not to get ahead of the process. We’ve asked for feedback. We’re going to come back with what we’ve heard. We’re going to look at the whole gambit of options that we have, and we want to lay that out and we want to have the full discussion with committee to make the right decisions. There are going to be tough decisions to be sure. We have a very high level of service in this...

Mr. Speaker, that commitment has already been made. There’s a program review that’s been set up. There’s been money voted for their operation. We’ve laid out the work plans, the terms of reference for the committee. We’ve committed to working with committee to lay out the planning and engagement so they, along with Cabinet, have an oversight role to play.

As the Member indicated, that’s a process that’s going to take time. This is a large, complex organization with many, many component pieces. In the meantime we have another business planning process cycle now upon us. We’re going to be doing...

In the last budget there were funds identified and voted to set up a program review committee as part of the Refocusing Government initiative. We’re going to be coming forward with a plan, as the Premier indicated, about restructuring boards and agencies.

The issue of tax shifts. If we can move away from income taxes and taxes on that type of income to consumption taxes, I think that’s a good shift. And we want to look at making sure that those with the most are going to be prepared to pay more than those who have the least.

But very clearly, we have a whole number of initiatives that are tied...

What we have in the North is a very high level of service by this government with some of the best programs, I believe, in the country, be it for seniors, health, the SFA or some of our housing programs.

The question is, it’s not just taxes. The issue is the type of government we want and we think we can afford. What are we prepared to pay to have that government and those types of services? Very clearly, we’re going to come forward with all the work we’re undertaking right now. There will be a full chance for committee to engage in the discussion. We’re doing the preparatory work to get all...