Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight conducted public reviews of Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 2, on March 25 and 26, 2004. The committee would like to thank all the witnesses for their submissions, which were made on very short notice. The committee also thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill.

As I indicated in my comments on Bill 2, the committee was very concerned about the short amount of time allowed for the public to review and respond to these tax increases.

Bill 3 proposed to raise the personal income tax...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I think I understood this particularly puzzling question, I think the Minister took the average off the estimated and didn't take the number off the actual which is kind of strange, because the estimated, if I understood him correctly -- and please feel free to straighten me out -- I think I heard him say that the estimated was around $900,000 but the actual was $705,000. So why are we using an estimated number when I think I see three years of approximately $700,000? We have $739,000 for one year, $772,000 for the next, and $705,000 for the third. So why are we...

No, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Warren, for your comments. How long has this group or function held this $95,000 negotiated contract? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Excellent. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. With a department that has I think six pages, you have to at least ask a few questions. I don’t think I heard the reduction of 25 percent there. Maybe if the Minister could gratefully reiterate that. I heard there’s a plan that we’re going to be a little smarter on how we purchase the tickets, but I didn’t quite hear the cutback from last year’s travel budget and how we’ve got 25 percent in this year’s travel budget. If the Minister could help me on that number. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am now prepared to switch topics. I appreciate the suggestion that I think I understood, which is it's a little bit of a promotion within the department, which I think lends a lot of weight to future growth as well as the employees' satisfaction to see one of their own working through the system. That's the way I understood that, which we could probably talk for hours about but that's not why we're here, although I will lend credit to that plan. It's good to see.

The next question if the Minister could explain for me and on behalf of the rest of the Members, they...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If the Minister could elaborate what we get for $95,000 out of this $245,000 breakdown. We pay $100,000 for someone to negotiate on our behalf; $50,000 we pay for someone to do research. If you could elaborate on what the $95,000 gives the territorial government for service. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Actually, this is quite an unusual experience. Normally my time flies by. This is nice; I have lots of time here. Can the Minister supply me with those numbers I was requesting about last year’s travel costs? Can I have the ministry breakout as well as the negotiators breakout? How often, before I release the mike, do these negotiating teams travel at, if I may boldly say, $768,000 worth of travel? If the Minister could explain that. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just before I leave this issue, if the Minister could explain to me why training couldn't have been provided in the Fort Simpson area to meet the needs of this position. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If the Minister could be so kind in pointing it out, he did say he wasn't sure; I'm not sure either. I would appreciate if the Minister could point that out with the title. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.