Michael Miltenberger

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Ms. Margaret Melhorn, the deputy minister of Finance and FMB, and Mr. Mike Aumond, deputy minister of Public Works and Services. I would also like to request at the appropriate time to bring in Mr. Russ Neudorf, the deputy minister of Transportation, when we get to the Transportation page on the supplementary appropriation.

Yes, there are.

Mr. Chairman, the Member is correct; this issue has been identified. As we move forward with the upcoming year and what’s being proposed in terms of investments in alternative energy and as we plan to transition to other fuel sources, clearly we’ll be looking at the capital process as well so that we’re not putting in brand new facilities if we’re looking at changing the possible source of generation of electricity, for example, or running other facilities.

Yes, Mr. Chairman. I’m pleased to present Supplementary Appropriation No. 2, 2008–2009. This document outlines the additional appropriation of $11.617 million for operation expenditures and a reduction of $43.329 million for capital investment expenditures in the 2008–2009 fiscal year. Major items for operation expenditures include $3.3 million for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to complete upgrades or replace aged water treatment plants in the communities of Deline, Kugluktuk, Tuktoyaktuk, Behchoko and Aklavik. These expenditures will be offset by funding available through...

I, as well, have been getting a number of comments and feedback on my e-mails and from wherever I happen to be going. As a government we are very sensitive to the implications of any decision we make with regard to taxes or reductions. We’ve been directed very clearly, and the message from the last budget process was that reductions weren’t the favoured option. So we’ve come forward with plans to look at other revenue options so that we don’t have to necessarily increase the number of reductions we’re talking about.

Yes, we are very sensitive to this, and we want to make sure that we don’t...

Mr. Speaker, that’s part and parcel of the work that’s currently underway. We’re going to be bringing forward a package on the next phase of reductions. We’re going to be bringing forward a package that deals with the revenue options, both bringing people into the North and growing the economy, as well as looking at those areas where increased taxes may be advantageous.

As the Premier indicated in his sessional statement, there are a lot of things happening around us in the world that are affecting life in the North and business in the North. With every decision we make, be it taxes or other options for generating revenues, there are going to be upsides, but there are also going to be downsides. I’ve heard the Members opposite talk in great detail about the mass exodus and what they’re hearing from their constituents. For the first day of session the political hyperbole was fairly interesting, if not somewhat misleading. It was very interesting and makes the...

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated already, we are very clearly aware that there are upsides and downsides. While we may generate some revenue, there are going to be implications and consequences. We are looking very carefully at all the decisions we are going to be making and the suggestions and recommendations we are going to be bringing forward.

We are very sensitive to the issue of the cost of living in small communities. We have set up a committee to in fact address that issue. We do not want to engage in counterproductive exercises here in government. So, yes, we are going to be very...

Mr. Speaker, the payroll tax is one small attempt to capture some of that wealth that is now flying over as they go back to where they may be living in the south.