Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 1, Appropriation Act, 2004-2005, and would like to report progress and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Next I have Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for that explanation because I believe there is a perception out there in the public in the Northwest Territories that there is, not quite the way the Minister describes it, but there is some utopia coming here to our fiscal situation as a result of these negotiations taking place on resource royalties. One of the questions that was posed to me by a constituent was with respect to the tax initiatives the Minister has proposed. They were wondering when we get this deal, and when we start to see the kind of revenue we need to sustain...

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Finance. During the course of discussion and debate about our budget over the last few days, and the days that will be ahead I am sure, we keep talking about the sustainability of our programs and services given our sources of revenue and our transfer from Canada. Mr. Speaker, if the Minister could be so succinct, what is it exactly that he sees at the end of the tunnel here? Where is the light at the end of the tunnel for us? We have been grinding on Ottawa now for so long for a better deal, I am starting to...

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to provide this House with my early observations on the performance of our Premier and Cabinet Ministers. Not so many weeks ago, we gathered here to choose from amongst ourselves people to fill various positions of leadership in the 15th Assembly. Some of us are returning Members, but we also have six new Members; almost one-third of us brand new to the territorial level of government.

Over the past few days and weeks, we have gotten to know each other a little better. We have had a chance to observe old colleagues in new roles, such as yourself...