Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Madam Chair. First I want to make an observation. When a Member has a very good question, I seem to hear the click and it appears the Minister is reading from notes. So I have to compliment his staff on his excellent replies back.

Madam Chair, I just happened to notice under expenditures and categories, it does cause me some concern when I read under grants and contributions, 42 percent of the budget goes to grants and contributions. When we are scrambling to make adjustments with our payroll tax and just tax in general on people, it causes me some stress that we could have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then at this time I'll ask the honourable Member if he will provide a briefing note to all Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday in the budget address there was a line item of $300,000 directed at assisting land-use planning studies, new technical investigations and other items related to development. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister of Finance is when will tax-based communities receive similar treatment? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I may draw your attention to page 4 of the budget address, there’s a quote in there that says current projections show this virtually unchanged at $70 million. That refers to our deficit. Now it also points out, going a little further into the quote, it says, from the Finance Minister yesterday, we project a $46 million operating deficit for 2004-2005 and that was with some very classy intervention with raising some taxes, creating some revenues, finding some money. But the obvious question that has caused me some concern is, has the Finance Minister...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is with regard to the application of the territorial BIP policy and the exceptions that are made through their discretion.

Mr. Speaker, would the Premier, the Honourable Mr. Joe Handley, table in the House the Cabinet policy that clearly demonstrates to all Members and the public how Cabinet consistently decides if a project warrants the waiving of the BIP? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it was only a few years ago the Department of Transportation was advocating that this airport was too small, the building was too small. Now we’re looking at expanding it in such a way that we’re running into a corner. What consideration, taking that into account with this new security upgrade, was the Department of Transportation doing in that regard? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has a strategy whereas their policy is forcing all major airports across Canada to upgrade their security to address the drastic circumstances that have happened a few years ago. One of those airports identified would be the airport in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, my direct question to the Minister is, who will be paying for this forced and new initiative to upgrade our airport in Yellowknife? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to thank the Minister for recognizing that there are gaps in the system, because that leads me very nicely into my next question. What is the Minister’s plan to ensure that the gaps are filled for supplying raw materials to the public out there who wish to continue the traditional lifestyle of the arts and craft industry? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you for recognizing me, Mr. Speaker. I couldn’t see; my seat stops me from looking into the gallery, but I did try to look quickly and one of my constituents, Mike Adamchick was here earlier for the budget address. The good budget address his comments were on Mr. Roland’s presentation, but if he is still up there, hello, Mr. Adamchick.

---Applause

Mr. Chair, may I seek unanimous consent to continue my Member's statement? Thank you.