Debates of March 18, 2004 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance also with regard to the budget address. It was very interesting listening to all the feedback that came in following the budget address yesterday in the media and to hear the Finance Minister being interviewed last night on Northbeat and on CBC this morning, and to hear the people's responses on the budget address. Overall, on balance, it seemed like it wasn't that unfavourable.

But nestled in the budget address, kind of in an inconspicuous place under fiscal strategy, it states in the longer term we will need to find an additional $20 million in expenditure savings or cost avoidance in each of the following two fiscal years if we are to balance our budget by 2006-2007, which the Finance Minister clearly indicated he was committed to doing. That is a significant amount of money. We certainly all know as politicians that a lot of our people have a lot of ideas about how this government could spend more money. But, Mr. Speaker, I maintain that those same people also have a lot of ideas about how this government could save money and spend less money in certain areas.

So I would like to know what the Finance Minister has planned in terms of any kind of formal dialogue. Certainly through our constituents and through Members you will get input and feedback on that, but being as we are embarking on what could be some difficult economic times, some difficult fiscal times, does the Finance Minister have any plan to receive and document and respond to those kinds of suggestions which I'm sure people will come forward with? Thank you.

Minister of Finance.

Return To Question 36-15(3): Formal Process For Receiving The Public’s Suggestions For Fiscal Restraint

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would gladly receive input from residents across the Territories on what we could do to save dollars for government and for the people overall as taxpayers. Mr. Speaker, one of the problems we had again was the timeline and choosing to come forward and have a full budget by the end of this fiscal year -- that's the end of this month – which put us under some severe time constraints as to what we could do. One of the processes I will follow, besides the fact that we will be working with Members and the northern leaders next month as we lay out and give the information we have about our fiscal situation, is to consult with northerners and through chambers of commerce and other groups, seeking more input in what might be achieved through our budget reform process. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 36-15(3): Formal Process For Receiving The Public’s Suggestions For Fiscal Restraint

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we have a tendency sometimes to look for big-tickets items, items that are in the hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars where we can save money. I think where our constituents and people in the public service could help us is in areas involving smaller amounts and smaller adjustments where the impacts won't be felt as greatly, but added all together they would make a significant difference, as well. That's why I think it's important to have some mechanism set up where these kinds of suggestions can be channelled and properly considered and responded to. So I would look forward to the Minister coming forward with something like that. Otherwise it's just possible to lose those suggestions in the fray of day-to-day business. Thank you.

I would like to recognize the clock that time has lapsed for question period, but I will allow the Member to finish her questions. Minister of Finance.

Further Return To Question 36-15(3): Formal Process For Receiving The Public’s Suggestions For Fiscal Restraint

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the interim, before setting up a formal process, I will commit to starting a process from within my office. If the Members are aware and have suggestions themselves or know of constituents who have some suggestions, they can contact my office directly. I will start a log as to what suggestions are being put forward, and respond to those that would send in their suggestions. So I'll start from my office and we'll work forward from there. Thank you.

Thank you. At this time, I would like to recognize the people in the gallery and thank them for coming today. It's nice to see our gallery filled with students who show interest in the political process. To the other people who are in the gallery, welcome.

---Applause