Sandy Lee

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a question on the personal income tax item there. We are seeing an increase of $7 million from the 2002-2003 fiscal year to the fiscal year of 2003-2004, prior to any increase in personal income tax that is being proposed in this year's budget. So I am interested in knowing what explains that $7 million increase, considering that it was my understanding that we had in fact increased the personal tax exemption, which I understood would decrease the income from personal income tax. Or is that exemption taken out somewhere else and is this gross personal income...

Thank you. I think you managed here. In that case then, the announcements for additional funding that we're getting from the federal government -- there have been a couple of them in the last while -- where would that appear? Would that appear under the Department of Health, or would it appear on this page somewhere? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to be clear that I am going beyond the message for tourism. I think that message for the tourism industry is a good one and it has been used for a long time. I am suggesting something different, a little slogan for the whole Territories, NWT government or the NWT as a whole. In British Columbia, for example, they use the slogan “Beautiful British Columbia,” I don’t know if this is for tourism. I think PEI has a short message that everybody understands, which I can’t remember at the moment; sorry. So I am looking for something beyond...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this being Friday, I would also like to touch on a lighter topic, but an important point and it has been raised by two other Members already. It is with regard to the messages and slogans, sort of the branding of the Territories. I do believe the previous questions focussed on this idea as a tourism strategy. But someone has brought to my attention -- I believe she's in the gallery -- the fact that the NWT does not have an NWT-wide label or a brand name or a slogan or something that we use repeatedly that is recognizable around the world. I can think...

I have no further questions on that item. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this Sunday, March 21st, will be the official kick-off of spring, although it doesn’t feel like it outside at the moment. Spring in Yellowknife means Caribou Carnival, Mr. Speaker. This is an occasion where all residents, visitors, families, young and old, partake in numerous events that are taking place. This will begin next Friday, Mr. Speaker. Some of the events that we have gotten used to enjoying at this carnival are dog mushing, or a tea boiling contest, or vying to be the owner of the ugliest truck in town. I was going for that until recently when...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. So we have other expenses under other expenses. I just want to make a point here, Mr. Chairman. I wonder if the Minister as Minister of Finance could comment on whether or not there is any better way to be more transparent in the way we debate and pass budgets, Mr. Chairman. I do believe that the exercise we’re engaged in here is very important. This is the money that we’re approving for the government to spend on behalf of the people and the least we could do or ought to be able to know is what it is that we’re allocating the budget for. I understand that...

That concludes my general comment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Minister mentioned that 30 percent of the $7 million increase is from the mines. Can I get information as to what constitutes the other 70 percent and also could the Minister indicate as to whether or not the Snap Lake De Beers mine is included in that assessment? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't believe that explains what I'm trying to find out here. I guess there are two things happening here. One is that even with our proposed income tax increase for this upcoming fiscal year, we are projecting less income from personal income tax this upcoming year, according to this page. In the previous year, comparing the main estimates for 2003-2004 and the actuals, we are seeing an increase where a more logical answer to me would have been that you would have seen a decrease because of the introduction of an increase in exemption, which I understood would...