Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am just trying to establish if that will be our revenue base in that line item in the next few years. It seems like that is how it’s going to be. Thank you very much.

I just have one more question with regard to taxation revenue and property taxes. It looks like a $3 million increase. I am just wondering what to base that on. In fact, it looks more like a $6 million increase if you go from mains to mains.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I was just looking at the budget address. Our projected revenue was stated at $917 million. On page 3-22, it says total revenue is $820 million. I wonder if you could give me an explanation of the difference.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided) I would like to take this moment to reflect upon our road to the northern leaders meeting in Hay River, NWT, in the first week of April. I was pleased to be involved in a dinner that the Aboriginal Summit hosted in January. At this informal gathering it was observed that never before had northern leaders and the whole of the GNWT MLAs gathered to discuss items of mutual concern. At the outset of the 15th Assembly, we did indeed recognize that we as the GNWT are no longer the only government in the North. Our regions are more formidable presences...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't know if I'm preceding the committee, because I'm looking at page 3-12, if you will permit me. At the bottom it says the above amounts reflect only program delivery costs and does not include corporate and administrative costs. I'm just wondering where do the corporate and administrative costs of the department show up.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am just trying to get a concept of whether we should get our bonus revenue because it is tax time and that we get an extra $20 million. What guarantee do we have that it is put into the cash surplus and not spent before it gets to the House?

Thank you, Mr. Minister. I am wondering overall, budget wise, I am new to this process and I am wondering if you could shed a little bit of light on why the budget was at $960 million when we came to the 15th Assembly, and why there wasn’t a lead up to kind of striving to balance our budget, instead of the predicament that we find ourselves in, which is fine, because I believe it is manageable because I like to look on the bright side too. If the Minister can give me a little bit of history of why the budget was at $960 million without the forced growth issues. It seems that we had planned...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe this question will be directed to the Premier. I have before me the 14th Legislative Assembly final report of the Special Joint Committee on Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs. What strikes me in this report is that it recommended the establishment of a standing committee on non-taxed based communities. I am wondering if the government has looked at that and are willing to proceed with that in the 15th Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was just wondering where it would show up if it's an actual cost to the budget.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My next question is with regard to when Ottawa announces a new initiative that is cost shared 50/50. I think that's what kind of gets us into trouble, because we don't have the other 50 cents to chip in to begin with, yet we take the opportunity to do it. Does that also come before the House, where we can have input into an initiative that's good but we just can't afford?