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. Chairman. I'm going to apologize for this one because it could because it has been a long day, but I don't think I quite understood the answer. Like I said, I stress it could be because it's a long day. Are they getting a fee for service and the bottles are being left within as an incidental? For example, are they able to do what they wish with the bottles, or is that incorporated in the fee for service? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That's good news. Who maintains ownership of the bottles once the money has been refunded? Who retains ownership once the bottles are returned for money? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Referring to page 3-20 under other income, $180,000, we see quite a substantial change. Could the Minister supply me with some information on a breakdown in that regard? Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I notice three-and-a-half minutes of my time was lost there by hearing that that money is being allocated to health, education and municipal areas. We didn’t get any comments on what some of the low priorities were. While I am at the mike, I would also like to get some of those examples and references rather than just programs. The honourable Minister references that a five percent cut hasn’t been restored. We are arguing that we want $18 million of the five percent. I think he knows what I am referring to. Is there any indication that our government is being led on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting days and hours as the Speaker, after consultation, deems fit to assist with the business before the House.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question to the Minister of Finance is does he recognize that $300,000 is merely a drop in the bucket for any land-use planning in any type of development, and does he note how far $300,000 goes? Can he give us examples of how that money will be spent fairly amongst all the non-tax-based communities?