Caroline Wawzonek

Madam Chair, thank you. I can certainly, on one hand, assure the Member that one of the things that we are doing is advocating to improve funding to the partners that would be delivering on last mile connectivity, and if I might just then see if there's anything further that the deputy minister wishes to add in addition to that?

Madam Chair, thank you. I am alive to the fact that our small business tax rate is higher, and indeed one of the highest, at least in Western Canada. I don't disagree. I do want to differentiate that, perhaps, to lumping all corporate taxes into one group. I don't disagree with what the Member is saying, that there are small businesses that might benefit from a reduced rate, even as the conversations going on about other places to find revenue. As I have said already, I think that should be part of the conversation, but how it can provide impetus for small businesses and growth in small...

Thank you, Madam Chair. That policy, specifically, I have very recently committed to offering a technical and confidential briefing to the relevant committee to look at that policy in greater depth and to look at some of the reviews that have been done of that policy, and to determine the best course forward in lockstep with all Members of the House or with Members of that committee. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I apologize for the delay. At this point, significant planning has not begun for that review, but the good news with that is it gives an opportunity for the 19th Assembly to be involved in the planning of the review, and we will be engaging with the committee as we do begin those preparations. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, thank you. To my left, I have Sandy Kalgutkar, the deputy minister of the Department of Finance.

Madam Chair, thank you, and I certainly can commit to providing that to the Member. Yes, Madam Chair, I am going to have to commit to providing it to the Member. I have some information in front of me, and frankly, it involves acronyms that I think I would rather just make that commitment.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and, Madam Chair, yes, the commitment is to do that, as well. We can look at areas where we are not giving best value to residents, where we are overtaxing, which doesn't mean that we're not also looking to be more creative in areas where there can be new sources of revenue. I think that conversation will go hand in hand. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Firstly, the ability to provide bonuses to senior employees is really one of the only opportunities to provide some ongoing increase or benefits to those senior employees who are not anymore on the same step grade as other GNWT employees. Certainly, I would dispute the idea that this is an opportunity to find cuts. Every department's variance reports are available and can be looked at by the Members, including the Ministers, and I would think, if there were ongoing cuts being used inappropriately, that should come to light through a variety of other routes and tools and...

Madam Chair, they are not. Thank you.

Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here to present the 2020-2021 Main Estimates for the Department of Finance. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $21.3 million or 8.1 percent over the 2019-2020 Main Estimates. These estimates support our government's objective to prioritize responsible and strategic spending while matching the modest expected revenue growth over the coming year.

Highlights of these proposed estimates include:

$7.8 million in forced growth, which includes $4.5 million in short-term debt servicing requirements and $3.3 million in UNW collective bargaining...