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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess I have to ask the right question. Can the taxpayer lose everything he owns because he owes an outstanding water and sewer bill, yet his taxes remain paid up? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess I just have difficulty in playing a part in allowing somebody to lose their house and their land because they owe a library fine and they refuse to pay it for whatever reason, but they are maintaining their land taxes diligently, as many hard-working people do. If they have a dispute over water and sewer services and they aren’t paying it, it appears that we are allowing a system where they can lose access to their house and land because we are allowing the municipalities to tack on these bills and outstanding fees on the taxation bills. As a government, we...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes to consider Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, and Bill 9, Municipal Statutes Amendment Act.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In this case, it appears there is a wrong here, and the wrong is that our protocol wasn’t followed, Mr. Speaker. In fact, I think our policies dictate that it’s Cabinet that determines to authorize negotiations. In this case, it’s apparent that regional staff or administration decided who gets the contract and who doesn’t. I don’t think our government should be able to do that. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister who authorized the sole source negotiations on this file? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know what this government is going to do in terms of getting the ferry service back up and running, Mr. Speaker. We have got at least three weeks or at least another month worth of sailing time, as it were, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Transportation, with regard to the ferry service strike in Nahendeh. Despite the federal ruling against the ferry service being listed as essential services, the residents of Fort Simpson and Wrigley do consider it a life line to the rest of the world. On behalf of my constituents, I would like to know what position the government is taking with respect to the strike there, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I was just wondering, is it not our duty to the public as well as the traveling public, and I would like to know if the Minister is looking at a continuation of our services for the ferry in Nahendeh. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The workers that are on strike were only asking for a fair wage for the work that they do, Mr. Speaker. Is our government in any position to offer any arbitration in this matter?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today our Premier and all our Ministers spoke about energy. I commend our government in recognizing and addressing this huge impact of rising energy costs. We have yet to hear exactly how government will be addressing the real needs of our people, Mr. Speaker, people like granny from Nahanni. She wants to know how her fixed income will combat unprecedented rising heating and gasoline prices. She wants to know why, Mr. Speaker, she has to pay 10 times the national average for her power bill.

We do not need programs like a Beverage Container Recovery Program to add to her...