Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Madam Chair. I acknowledge and accept the Member's frustration that the workforce in the GNWT continues to not be as representative as we would all like it to be. I expect that is going to be something that I am tasked to accomplish in the next few years, to at least try to make some movement on that dial and to improve the percentages and the numbers to be more truly reflective of the population that we serve.

Madam Chair, the tools with which we will do that, and the way that we will accomplish that, simply is not something that I am prepared to speak to on the fly in this context...

Madam Chair, I don't have that specific detail in front of me, but I know there is an annual report that is tabled, and I expect that that information will be available at that time. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The higher value in 2018-2019 was as a result, as I understand, of the contribution made to RCMP housing, and that program then sunsetted and is not currently included in the 2020-2021 Main Estimates. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, thank you. I can certainly, on one hand, assure the Member that one of the things that we are doing is advocating to improve funding to the partners that would be delivering on last mile connectivity, and if I might just then see if there's anything further that the deputy minister wishes to add in addition to that?

Madam Chair, thank you. I am alive to the fact that our small business tax rate is higher, and indeed one of the highest, at least in Western Canada. I don't disagree. I do want to differentiate that, perhaps, to lumping all corporate taxes into one group. I don't disagree with what the Member is saying, that there are small businesses that might benefit from a reduced rate, even as the conversations going on about other places to find revenue. As I have said already, I think that should be part of the conversation, but how it can provide impetus for small businesses and growth in small...

Thank you, Madam Chair. That policy, specifically, I have very recently committed to offering a technical and confidential briefing to the relevant committee to look at that policy in greater depth and to look at some of the reviews that have been done of that policy, and to determine the best course forward in lockstep with all Members of the House or with Members of that committee. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I apologize for the delay. At this point, significant planning has not begun for that review, but the good news with that is it gives an opportunity for the 19th Assembly to be involved in the planning of the review, and we will be engaging with the committee as we do begin those preparations. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, thank you. To my left, I have Sandy Kalgutkar, the deputy minister of the Department of Finance.

Madam Chair, thank you, and I certainly can commit to providing that to the Member. Yes, Madam Chair, I am going to have to commit to providing it to the Member. I have some information in front of me, and frankly, it involves acronyms that I think I would rather just make that commitment.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and, Madam Chair, yes, the commitment is to do that, as well. We can look at areas where we are not giving best value to residents, where we are overtaxing, which doesn't mean that we're not also looking to be more creative in areas where there can be new sources of revenue. I think that conversation will go hand in hand. Thank you, Madam Chair.