Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, I appreciate those comments. I suppose the last question, really, is, is there a time frame -- given that we’re slightly over halfway through our term here, and I’d like to see some good progress here, I know many of us would and it sounds like the Deputy Premier as well -- that we can expect for this initiative to come from Cabinet or does he see Social Programs leading that effort? Thank you.

Thank you for the comments, Deputy Premier. I think certainly those comments reflect where many of us are. Given that a well thought out and implemented strategy with ongoing evaluation is demonstrably more effective than independent reactive policies, such as we put in place now -- and we have put a lot in place, I’m the first to admit that -- what action is this government willing to take to now move to the next level of developing a comprehensive strategic plan to tackle the issue? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my great pleasure to welcome people belonging to the Goyatiko Language Society in Dettah. First, I’d like to recognize Mary Rose Sundberg, instructor, and her students: Lena Drygeese, Francis Betsina, Nora Crookedhand, Stella Martin, Andrew Crapeau and Margaret Baillargeon. Welcome to the House. Maybe a hand for those people, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Also, Mr. Speaker, we had students and teachers of Grade 6 Weledeh School. It was great to have them in the House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We continue to discuss options for new revenues, and in light of the recovering economy and full scaling up of production at our mines, it is timely, indeed, to be instituting new measures. Through consultations by the Department of Finance, many discussions by the public and comments by several Members, a clear consensus has emerged that more progressive tax measures are needed.

I believe a first priority is to implement a resource income tax to serve us until devolution of responsibilities is achieved. We have the capacity now to implement such a tax in a moderate way...

I appreciate those comments and that update. My last question here is we seem to be getting pretty wet seasons and certainly our falls have become quite wet compared to what they used to be with a lot of freeze/thaw cycles to it. We’ve had a good amount of work going with the Ingraham Trail, some work on the Dettah road and the Highway No. 3 and so on. Are there any observations or insights being collected on what this means to the cost of our capital projects and transportation in the Yellowknife region? Thank you.

That’s an amazing turnaround from what I had been told previously. Somehow we’re getting a cost efficiency of about 300 percent, which is wonderful news.

The Minister committed to me some time ago in the House that he would provide me with the plan and the full costing for the entire reconstruction of the Dettah road in preparation for chipsealing. I’ve never received that, but I understand from Mr. Neudorf that perhaps that work is still going on. I’d be happy to provide Hansard, if that’s of interest, but I’m still very interested in that and I’m encouraged to hear that perhaps we can do it...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to start with the access road to Dettah. I’m wondering if the Minister could provide me with an update on what is being achieved this year and what the budget will cover for next year. Thank you.

Thanks again for those comments. I recognize it’s difficult to commit at this point and I am happy to see work is being done at this point. I hope we do go forward with that opportunity.

It’s shocking, of course, that nearly 20 percent of our earned income in the NWT economy is paid to people who don’t pay taxes in the NWT. I recognize that the MOU between the government and the diamond mines is working on that to base workers here in the North and that there is some effort to look at immigration to sort of help in an indirect way, however, tools do exist that can help us recover some of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my Member’s statement, my questions are for the Minister of Finance. Yesterday the Premier was asked about the current state of devolution negotiations and gave answers describing their status. Completion of a deal will take some time, and meanwhile, the revenues owed to our citizens for the sale of our resources go uncollected. Many Members have called for a resource tax as a desirable interim measure. Will the Minister commit to bringing forward a proposal for the increase of revenues through resource rents as part of his package of recommendations in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.