Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just in summary, then, and to be very specific: are we being told today that the Premier will look at a review of the payroll tax of 2 per cent?

Mr. Speaker, the Premier has set up strategic initiative committees, and one of them is tasked with looking at issues related to the cost of living. Is this something that could be assigned to this committee, as well, in looking at the cost of living in the Northwest Territories in light of taxes?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to congratulate the residents of Hay River and the organizers of what I believe has been the largest fundraiser ever to take place in Hay River. I’m referring to the Relay for Life, which was held in many communities across Canada June 13.

The 12-hour walk for cancer was a celebration of survival and a tribute to the lives of loved ones who have been touched by cancer. There were 38 teams involved, with four out-of-town teams from Fort Smith, Kakisa, Yellowknife and Fort Providence.

Over the past few weeks people raised money by having garage sales...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to move that at this time we report progress. Thank you.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. By striking out “89,752,000” and substituting “88,649,000” in the column entitled “Operations Excluding Amortization.”

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee would like to consider Tabled Document 37-16(2), the Main Estimates ’08–09, Volumes 1 and 2. Then we would like to go to Bill 8, the Appropriation Act, 2008–2009, then to the committee report on official languages, and then the rest, in order, as time permits today.

Mr. Speaker, after we charge employees in the Northwest Territories a 2 per cent payroll tax and then we give a rebate to people and we also pay for the administration of the tax, what do we end up netting from the payroll tax, approximately, in round figures?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier and relate to the issue of cost of living in the Northwest Territories. I know that perhaps we were a little critical about not enough revenue options in the budget, but we don’t want revenue options for this government that hit directly at the pocketbooks of Northerners. One thing that does that right now, which is on our books, is the payroll tax. During the election campaign — I haven’t had a chance to raise this in the House yet — I had a lot of people talk to me about that payroll tax, how it went from 1 per cent to 2 per cent...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee would like to deal with the Legislative Assembly’s Main Estimates, Bills 9 and 11, and Committee Reports 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, please.

Mr. Speaker, to the issue of finding money to top up the program: right now, where do the funds come from for the territorial support program?