Robert C. McLeod

The quick answer is no, Mr. Chair. We do not know what it's going to cost to start up cannabis sales. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the absence of the legislation being passed, the Member is correct, there is no dollar figure that's tied to it right now. Thank you.

There is, but I will accept that as a comment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Waste Reduction and Recovery Program 2016-2017 Annual Report." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member does not see it in there because it's not there. We have not put it in there, and chances are, and I have said it before, there is a number of other ways that we help small business. So I am not sure if it's one we'll see by the end of the Assembly, but again, we have those discussions with committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, first of all I think the revenue from cannabis would show up under the Liquor Revolving Fund under a separate line item, I think, as cannabis. And as far as dedicated spending, we have not had that discussion yet to determine that. It's a bigger discussion than just talking about it here on the floor of the House. Obviously we have to work with committee and get some feedback from them, and then we'll make a determination as to whether we are going to make a dedicated stream of revenue or spending for the revenue from cannabis. Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is that they can write it off against both royalty and corporate tax, and they may have chosen to do so. I will confirm that, and I will share it with the Member. I will share it with committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As Members are aware, at the beginning of the 18th Legislative Assembly, I think even before we sat in this Chamber, the first news we got was our formula financing grant from Canada was cut by $34 million, so we were behind the 8-ball right off the bat. We will take every opportunity, as I have said before, to work with the federal government to see about accessing more funds for the Northwest Territories. They do recognize the cost of doing business up here is higher than the rest of the country. They've made significant infrastructure investments into the Northwest Territories, which in...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we are looking at a number of different options, and I think we've gone before committee and presented some of those options. We are waiting to hear back from committee. We'll continue to have those discussions, and then in the absence of waiting on the response from committee, I do not think we should be having that discussion on the floor of the House; but just to assure people that we have done our work and we do know what some of the effects may be, and we are taking steps to mitigate those. Once we have our conversations with committee, then we'll be able...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Inuvialuit Water Board Budget 2018-2019." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.