Floyd Roland

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Member is right; there have been a number of problems with a number of projects in Sachs Harbour. Unfortunately we’ve had weather delays, and that’s one of the issues we have to deal with as residents of the Northwest Territories. Accessibility is hampered at times, as we’ve heard earlier today. The Sachs Harbour health centre renovation is largely complete. They were planning to do a substantial completion inspection in April, but it was aborted due to weather. In fact, the people doing the inspection tried to get into Sachs Harbour yesterday...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister stated already in this House, this government already has a number of initiatives underway to ensure that all communities in the Northwest Territories benefit from some of the services we provide in the territory. That is one of the things we have to also keep in mind. Again, the Minister has committed to providing information to Members of this House, so that they can see the trail that’s gone to this point. It’s not something that came up yesterday. It’s been discussed for some time and we will provide that information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that sounds similar to a question asked earlier about the business case. Again, the Minister has provided to commit to providing that information to Members of this House before the end of this session. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the impact we feel the most would be on the surplus we had accounted for during the budget process. This budget year and the upcoming budget years, there is going to be a small impact. We will not be reducing the current expenditures that we have voted for and put in the budget, so there will not be a reduction scenario coming as a result of this information. Again, there are a number of other avenues that we are working on with the federal government which could impact us in a positive way that might offset this, but that’s still up in the air as to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have the department work on that as soon as we can put some horsepower to it and we should be able to work with the contractors out there in getting signage up. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I would consider that as we look at the matter of our products that we have for sale in the Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first and foremost it would be through the request or our fees that are issued regarding the sale of products; so when those contracts come available. As well, from time to time the Assembly will hold public hearings on it if there are changes to the act, and in fact we are going through that process and will be going throughout the communities in the Territories and trying to get input as to the Liquor Act and its changes. But for the actual product of what is available for sale, I can’t recall myself in my time as Minister of Finance, if in fact there...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to update Members and NWT residents on this government’s fiscal position and outlook.

When I presented the budget in February, we were looking at a fairly positive fiscal situation, both in the short and long term. At that time, we forecast a 2004-05 year-end operating surplus of about $44 million, primarily the result of the increases to our formula funding grant and federal health transfers arising from last fall’s First Ministers meetings.

Despite receiving these additional funds, our interim public accounts will show...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, May 30, 2005, I will move that Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will work with the Minister in seeing what timelines can be put into this. He has committed to bring it forward before the end of this session. I am not sure if it will be Monday or Tuesday, but he has committed to getting that information and we will honour that before the end of this session. Thank you.