Robert Bouchard

Alright. Does committee agree to continue with general comments on TD 115-17(5)?

I’ll call Committee of the Whole to order. We agreed to consider Tabled Document 115-17(5). I would like to ask the Minister responsible, Minister Miltenberger, to make his opening comments.

If that analysis has been done before, what is the Department of Finance doing currently in taxation to help the Northerners with the cost of living to put more money into their… Are there ways that we can reduce taxes to help people in the Northwest Territories currently?

Sorry, Mr. Speaker, I didn’t hear that response.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you all know, the residents of the Northwest Territories this summer hit a wall, the wall of cost of living. They’re concerned with the rising cost of living in the Northwest Territories.

It saddened me this summer to hear a lot of long-term Northerners talking about leaving the Northwest Territories because of the cost of living. The low water rates and the potential 13 percent increase in the cost of power was one of those things that basically hit the wall and they said, that’s it, we have a crisis, we need to leave, we’re talking about leaving.

Yesterday the...

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Miltenberger, any reply?

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. I know the question is very detailed, but we are in general comments. I’ll allow the question to happen and ask the Minister to answer it, but if I could just remind all the Members that we’re in general details and we’ll have plenty of time to ask detailed questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question is on maybe an evaluation of the existing or the operations this year.

Have we seen anywhere we can do some cost savings, economies of scale when we have larger fire seasons, and going forward, how do we evaluate that?

Does the Minister know how these extraordinary costs can be covered through the GNWT finances?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize constituent Mr. Roy Courtoreille, member of the UNW and a long time Hay River resident and a member of the large Courtoreille family that are distinguished in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.