Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this Sunday, March 21st, will be the official kick-off of spring, although it doesn’t feel like it outside at the moment. Spring in Yellowknife means Caribou Carnival, Mr. Speaker. This is an occasion where all residents, visitors, families, young and old, partake in numerous events that are taking place. This will begin next Friday, Mr. Speaker. Some of the events that we have gotten used to enjoying at this carnival are dog mushing, or a tea boiling contest, or vying to be the owner of the ugliest truck in town. I was going for that until recently when...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. So we have other expenses under other expenses. I just want to make a point here, Mr. Chairman. I wonder if the Minister as Minister of Finance could comment on whether or not there is any better way to be more transparent in the way we debate and pass budgets, Mr. Chairman. I do believe that the exercise we’re engaged in here is very important. This is the money that we’re approving for the government to spend on behalf of the people and the least we could do or ought to be able to know is what it is that we’re allocating the budget for. I understand that...

That concludes my general comment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Minister mentioned that 30 percent of the $7 million increase is from the mines. Can I get information as to what constitutes the other 70 percent and also could the Minister indicate as to whether or not the Snap Lake De Beers mine is included in that assessment? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't believe that explains what I'm trying to find out here. I guess there are two things happening here. One is that even with our proposed income tax increase for this upcoming fiscal year, we are projecting less income from personal income tax this upcoming year, according to this page. In the previous year, comparing the main estimates for 2003-2004 and the actuals, we are seeing an increase where a more logical answer to me would have been that you would have seen a decrease because of the introduction of an increase in exemption, which I understood would...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Does that mean that on net we are getting less in this fiscal year than we did two years ago? Is that a correct interpretation? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a question on a couple of items. On the first one under transfer payments, Canada health and social transfer, I noticed that the breakdown is different this year, and I'm interested in some explanation as to why that may be. Is it just a simple breakdown? In previous years, the transfer payments for health and social services were all combined. It appears to me, on this line here, for the upcoming year it has been broken down.

The second question I have on that item is could I get an explanation of the increase under this transfer from 2002-2003? Where it was...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following on that, would the Minister consider conducting a contest among the residents of the Territories? Not a huge money-spending venture, but a contest on a Web site or polling where people could click on with different ideas of what the slogans are. Maybe we could end up with the top three and then we could have a final match. Would the Minister consider something like that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could I get a breakdown on the other expenses for $2.1 million? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. As I indicated earlier, we have in our presence the contestants for the Caribou Carnival queen, the princess and prince, and I would just like to call their names and if they are there if they could stand up and bow. Mildred Wilke, Jodi Wilson, Elisbeth Fossum, Chelsey Normandin; they are the contestants for queen. For princesses: Alaina Reyes; Blessing Tsar; Danica Wouters; Ramona Normandin; Karlee Turner; and, Stacey Grandjambe. Thank you.

---Applause