Michael Miltenberger

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...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following documents, entitled Building for the Future: Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Annual Report 2005–2006; and NWT Housing Corporation Framework for Action 2008–2011.

Document 73-16(2), Building for the Future: NWT Housing Corporation 2005–2006 Annual Report, tabled.

Document 74-16(2), NWT Housing Corporation Framework for Action 2008–2011, tabled.

Mr. Speaker, I’d be happy to make the commitment that we’ll look at the information from the Yukon. When we come forward with the business plans, as we talk about a strategy for biomass, especially for the diesel communities, we want to look at every option in terms of how we can best cut costs and reduce dependency on oil.

Mr. Speaker, as Northerners we value and rely on clean waters and healthy aquatic ecosystems for our spiritual, cultural and physical well-being. It is one of our most valuable resources and will only increase in value and importance as sources diminish.

As we all know, wetlands, deltas and water flows throughout northern Alberta and the southern Northwest Territories are changing. We know these changes may be affecting the fish, moose and other life in the aquatic ecosystems. One of the major issues relates to the pace and scale of development within the Mackenzie River Basin and the potential...

I wish to table the following document, entitled Northern Voices, Northern Waters: Towards a Water Resources Management Strategy for the NWT.

Document 66-16(2), Northern Voices, Northern Waters: Towards a Water Resources Management Strategy for the NWT, tabled.

We have a fairly extensive list of programs, especially on the alternative energy side, working with the Arctic Energy Alliance and through ENR, where there are funds available for different type of things: energy-efficient applicants, vehicles, woodstoves — those types of things. We have some funding programs available to assist with home repairs for those people whose income meets the test. We have home repairs for seniors as well. I would be interested to see the information that the Member has picked up from the Yukon.

Mr. Speaker, we do a version of that already. There is a needs survey going to be taking place in 2009. As I’ve indicated to the Members of this House, there are issues where we need to review how we do business. We have to keep allocating and growing our resources, which are becoming more and more scarce. We’re going to have to look at how we do that so we get to the areas of highest need.

That’s an issue, I think, that is going to bear discussion as we move forward with the business-planning process.