Debates of August 15, 2007 (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I spoke about the motion that this government looked at, instructing the Government of the Northwest Territories to work with the counterparts of the jurisdictions to increase the index of northern residents reduction. I would like to find out from the Minister of Finance what progress he has made to date to have the federal government increase the northern residents deduction. In January, the Finance Minister started discussions with his territorial and provincial counterparts and they wrote letters to the Finance Minister. Will the Minister tell this House if he heard back from his colleagues and if he’s able to secure their support? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 118-15(6): Northern Residents Tax Deduction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the area of the northern residents tax deduction, I have contacted my fellow colleagues across the country, in the territories and provinces. We are beginning to get their responses back and many of them are favourable. We have another opportunity, in fact. Coming up in September, as the House finance committee launches their pre-budget consultation, we’re working with the three territorial Finance departments on a joint presentation and this will be one of the items that we’re hoping to include in that consultation process.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 118-15(6): Northern Residents Tax Deduction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Finance Minister give some strong indications to the people in the Northwest Territories in terms of an outline of somewhat of a time frame to see that they will hopefully receive this type of benefit from the federal government in terms of securing support from the other jurisdictions in increasing the northern residents deduction?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 118-15(6): Northern Residents Tax Deduction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it would be difficult to give an absolute timeline as, number one, to try and get a schedule together of all Finance Ministers where we have our joint meetings and, secondly, to get the agreement that we will put that on the agenda that would also include the federal government. On a provincial and territorial side, as I stated, we’re starting to get responses back that are favourable and can see that we can put that on a provincial and territorial agenda, but the meeting dates have not been finalized or discussed at this point. Secondly, from that table, to bring it up to the federal/provincial/territorial Ministers table is another initiative that we’d have to go forward on. Again, that’s an area of trying to get dates established. Sometimes it is short notice, but we will continue to work on that. The first things are to ensure we’ve got support with other jurisdictions and that is coming in now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 118-15(6): Northern Residents Tax Deduction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we know from previous discussions on devolution and resource revenue sharing, this issue here is very important to the people in the North in terms of getting it on the federal government’s agenda and having some results. Given that the Public Service Alliance and the Western Arctic MP started a lobbying campaign for a substantial increase of the northern residents deduction, what else does this Minister suggest the GNWT can do to finally get results providing this incentive to its citizens in the North?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 118-15(6): Northern Residents Tax Deduction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have started the process that I think would be the appropriate one. Ultimately, we need the federal government to make that decision. As I stated, we’re working with our colleagues across the territories and provinces and we will be addressing the federal committee of finance or the committee that’s reviewing pre-budget consultation on the federal budget and will be making a presentation there as well. So we’ve got a number of processes in place and we’ll continue to proceed and push those forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 118-15(6): Northern Residents Tax Deduction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was hoping that the Finance Minister would give some good news to the people in the Northwest Territories prior to us leaving this Assembly in terms of this issue here. I hope that we see a little more progressive steps taken, not like the devolution and resource revenue sharing. So, again, what type of a letter of comfort maybe to the people of the North in terms of this issue as being taken seriously by Canada and the other counterparts so we can see that this issue be front and foremost in terms of this issue being dealt with in the near future?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 118-15(6): Northern Residents Tax Deduction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we’ve seen from our results and many discussions that involve the Northwest Territories and other provincial and territorial Ministers of Finance, as well as the federal government, the process can be rather involved. We are working with that. We have initiated the contact and we’re starting to get those responses. As well, we have the opportunity and actually, as I stated earlier, we’re going to be working together with our territorial colleagues in making a joint presentation in Iqaluit on September 24th as the House finance committee launches their pre-budget consultations. So that’s another avenue that we’ll be making a presentation and doing recommendations, as well as continued effort on the territorial and provincial side in getting this onto the agenda with the federal Department of Finance. Thank you.