Robert C. McLeod

The quickest solution to the situation that we face right now is for people to honour the commitments that they have made and pay their property taxes. That way, we are in a position to provide the level of service that they have become accustomed to. We need that to happen, but, failing that, we understand that there are some issues. Again, some people are so far into tax arrears that they find it problematic to try to work their way out of it. We are interested in coming up with a repayment plan. I think the Member's question was: would we go into the community and meet with them? I think...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, I will move that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a page from Yellowknife South, Jaida Dowe, and also thank all the pages that are here this week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Section 3(2) of the Public Service Act, I wish to table the following document entitled "Public Service Annual Report 2016-2017." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It was made clear in the budget we have experienced some unanticipated revenue decline. To the Member's point, though, I am confident. I have to be. If your Finance Minister is not confident in the fiscal future of the Northwest Territories, he may as well fold up his iPad and go home, so I remain confident.

We are challenged. We are in a position, as the Member has said, as I pointed out our declining revenues over the last couple of years, because of the decisions we made in the Legislative Assembly, I think we were able to manage our way through that. Going forward, it was just recently...

We were elected by the people of the Northwest Territories to make decisions, and sometimes hard decisions have to be made. We have to remain optimistic in all that we do, even with challenges before us, because, if they see 19 Members of the Legislative Assembly going around saying, "Oh, woe is me," and head for the border, then that does not send a very good message. Our opportunity here is to send a message that, as the Member said before, or one of the Members said, "let residents of the Northwest Territories know that we have their backs." I am trying to send that message, and we will do...

Some of the early numbers show that our population has actually increased a bit the last couple of years; very small, but it has increased. Yes, there are going to be people who leave. If there are no economic opportunities for them, people will leave and go to where the jobs are, as they should.

Our challenge here is to promote the NWT as a positive place to invest and spend your money, and the rest of it will take care of itself. I do not think we need a strategy to tell us what we already know. I think we just have to ensure that we continue to promote the Northwest Territories as a place to...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our best years are behind us, not the NWT's.

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I would have to disagree with any report that suggests that the best years are behind us. We are aware of these projections and other scenarios. That is why we were working hard to manage our fiscal resources. As Members of this Assembly may recall, right at the beginning of the 18th Assembly, we were challenged with a $34 million decrease in our territorial-formula financing, and then, just last year with our corporate taxes, there was a further decrease, so I think we have done well in trying to...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I was actually waiting for the last motion. I had a few comments, but I thought I would wait until the last motion. You know, we appreciate the work that committee does. We do not always necessarily agree with some of the findings of the Auditor General's report. However, we did incorporate a number of their recommendations into the draft framework. Committee is aware of the work that we are doing because one of the things I have tried to do is to keep committee apprised as to all of the work that we are doing.

There was a motion there on the knowledge agenda...

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 12, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operation Expenditures), No. 1, 2018-2019, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.