Debates of March 18, 2004 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That would show up on page 3-11 under compensation benefits for treasury, as well as there would be some of it included in the other expenses section, as Ms. Melhorn stated, and we will provide that detail. The majority of other expenses adds up to the $2.6 million on page 3-12. But on 3-11, it gives the wages and compensation benefits as highlighted on that page, then there would be some others included in other expenses. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On page 3-11, if we are still on that, the deputy minister mentioned that the details for $2.6 million is on the next page, but may I get a breakdown on the details on the difference between $3.1 million and $2.6 million? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we will provide that information.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Treasury, operations expense, total operations expense, $4.472 million.

Agreed.

Page 3-15 of the main estimates, fiscal policy, operations expense, total operations expense, $818,000.

Agreed.

Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the fiscal policy area, the department’s responsibility, among the many responsibilities, is to work out the formula financing agreement with Canada. An issue that dogged us over the last few years was trying to settle down, Mr. Chairman, the results of the national census and how that impacts federal transfer payments to the Government of the NWT. I wanted to take this opportunity to ask if that whole issue of how many people live in the Northwest Territories has finally been settled at least as far as it relates to the amount of revenue we get from Ottawa. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, that issue has been dealt with. We are not happy with the under coverage, but we are happy that through our own exercise and providing those numbers to Ottawa that we actually increased the coverage and we are not under covered as much. To that extent, we feel we have done what we can. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I won’t belabour the results, but at least we have something we can move forward on now. So that we can avoid this in the future, Mr. Chairman, have we talked to the folks at either the census office or Revenue Canada to see if we can sort out the criteria for this, so that we don’t have these arguments about whether or not a community was counted accurately? This was a real frustration for us in the last government, Mr. Chairman. I think it caused us at least a year if not two of uncertainty in our financing situation with Ottawa. It was several millions of dollars that were at issue. If we can sort out how we do the counting, can we then arrive at more stability? Do we have that sorted out so that it won’t happen again? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have been working with Stats Canada to ensure that what happened in 2001 does not reoccur in 2006. So we have begun our discussions with Stats Canada in working with them to ensure that the under coverage that occurred in 2001 doesn’t occur again. We are being proactive in working with them in how we feel the previous one didn’t work for us. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to have the breakdown of other expenses of $147,000. If at all possible, I would like to have this read into the record, just to be clear. I am not looking for accounting for every dollar of what is planned under these other expenses areas. So I would like to know the general categories like the Minister mentioned earlier, such as travel, materials and supplies and computers. I am looking for approximate figures under whatever headings they are using. I could put every other department that is going to appear over the next 10 days that I will be asking this question on every other expense item and I would appreciate it if they would come prepared to have that read into the record. I understand if they are circulated afterwards we still get the information, but it’s not the same as having it read into the record while we are debating the issue. So having given that notice, may I ask the Minister if he has a breakdown of other expenses at this time? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I do have that information. Under fiscal policy, travel and transportation, 2004-05 is $52,000; materials and supplies, $16,000; purchased services is $14,000; contract services, $55,000; fees and payments, $2,000; computers, hardware and software, $8,000.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. We are back on page 3-15, fiscal policy, operations expense, total operations expense, $818,000.

Agreed.

We are now on page 3-17, Bureau of Statistics, operations expense, total operations expense, $728,000. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. May I have a breakdown on the $73,000?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, for Bureau of Statistics, travel and transportation, $20,000; materials and supplies, $27,000; purchased services, $7,000; contract services, $5,000; other expenses, $5,000; computer hardware and software, $9,000.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Any other questions on page 3-17?

Agreed.

Information on page 3-18 is active positions. Any questions?

Agreed.

Detail of work performed on behalf of others. Any questions?

Agreed.

Page 3-20, information item, Liquor Commission revolving fund.

Agreed.

Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question on the increase in the income under liquor sales. May I ask the Minister as to whether or not the increase projected for this year is a result of consumption or could it be because of an increase in taxes that we had introduced? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s a combination, one of the increased sales amount and the increase of the product itself. This budget doesn’t identify increased mark-ups by our government. So the reasons for the increase shown here are volume sales, as well as increased costs of the product from suppliers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wasn’t clear on the Minister’s answer as to exactly what the increased revenue is that the government is getting as a result of the increase in taxes.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The increase in revenue of liquor sales on page 3-20 is not a result of taxes. It is a result of increase of volume sales and increase of the product from the suppliers. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister advise us as to what the increase was from the increase in taxes on alcohol? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Is the Member looking for prior year increases in taxes? This budget, 2004-05, doesn’t show any increase for increase in taxes. It only shows increase in volume sales as well as the cost of product. Previous years, is that what the Member is looking for?

Clarification, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I appreciate that. It was only months ago, about six months ago, that one of the last things we did in the last Assembly was to raise the tax on tobacco and alcohol. Am I wrong? I want to know what was the income generated as a result of that tax increase. Did I dream this? I am sure we passed an increase in sin tax before we dissolved. Thank you.