Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, that Minister's Statement 1-18(3) delivered by the honourable Louis Sebert regarding North Slave Correctional Centre inmate concerns be moved into the Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

So we have got two years left to implement this tax cut. Is it going to get done? I did not hear a clear answer. If not, can the Minister at least stand up and say it is a broken promise?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I talked about how important it is to support small businesses. The federal government has cut the small business tax rate by 1.5 per cent, and I would like to ask the Minister of Finance if he is prepared to bring forward a tax plan to reduce taxes on small business as we have committed to in the mandate of the 18th Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Committee Report 2-18(3), be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this week is Small Business Week, a time to celebrate and thank northern small and medium-sized businesses for their enormous contributions to our territorial economy. They invest in our communities; bring new ideas, products, and services; and foster the economic opportunities that create long-lasting careers and economic growth. This is no more evident than in my riding of Kam Lake, the hub of our territory's small businesses. Since its humble beginnings until the present day, small businesses are everywhere you turn throughout Kam Lake; so much so that I would state that my...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not want to question the Minister's math, but we have had two years to cut the tax. We have not done it. We have got two years left to cut the tax. That is what we are talking about here. Mr. Speaker, the reason why a tax proposal like this is good is because it affects everyone equally. It is not a program that is going to be oversubscribed or underfunded. This is something that every business can benefit from, so, if we are not going to cut taxes, then are we going to roll out some tax credits? Especially as the new carbon tax comes out, are we going...

It is true that any cut to the tax rate is going to decrease revenues, but increased productivity and prosperity in our business community, that is, 98 per cent of the economy, will help create jobs and give businesses more resources to invest back into the economy. The Government of Yukon has cut their small business tax rates, so the Northwest Territories seems to be standing still. Is the Minister willing to revisit this issue at any time in this term?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Committee Report 2-18(3), Standing Committee Report on Government Operations on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts, be received by the Assembly and moved to Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to read an executive summary for the committee review into the public accounts.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to present its report on the review of the 2015-2016 public accounts of the government of the Northwest Territories.

The review took place in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, from April 3, 2017, to April 5, 2017. The committee notes that the consolidated 2015-2016 Public Accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories received a clean audit opinion from the Auditor General and commends the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, provide essential and invaluable services to the people of the Northwest Territories. These not-for-profit organizations are run by dedicated, community-minded people who care about giving back and improving the lives of their fellow citizens. The list of what they contribute to our society is endless, and the work they do is not easy. In addition to fulfilling their primary mandates, many NGOs invest an inordinate amount of time and effort securing annual funding. This splits their focus, inhibits their ability to...