Debates of June 1, 2005 (day 6)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier. Madam Speaker, the Northern Strategy that we’ve talked numerous times about in this House and in the Great Hall of this Assembly sets out some guiding principles and it does recognize the fact that we have unique challenges here in Northern Canada. I’ve mentioned, in this House, tax credits, trust funds, and, today, exemption from the GST as ways that we can get a competitive edge on attracting and retaining residents. We’ve been waiting quite patiently some 13 years for the federal government to come up with this Northern Strategy. I’d like to ask the Premier today if he could start a dialogue with Ottawa on exempting the Northwest Territories from paying the goods and services tax. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 70-15(4): NWT Exemption From Goods And Services Tax

Madam Speaker, either myself or, more appropriately, the Minister of Finance may want to raise those issues with the federal Finance Minister or with the Minister responsible for the CCRA. The point is an interesting one. It has implications that are good. It also has implications that are not something we would welcome necessarily. But, yes, I think we’re always open to doing that, whether it’s with GST or different ways of doing taxes or whatever it may be that is more beneficial to northerners. We recognize the high cost of living and doing business and the need to attract people to live here and do business here. So creative ideas we take very seriously. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 70-15(4): NWT Exemption From Goods And Services Tax

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier what exactly his government is doing to address the high cost of living to the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Premier Handley.

Further Return To Question 70-15(4): NWT Exemption From Goods And Services Tax

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That’s a bit of a different question, Madam Speaker. Rather than get into the detail of what we are doing in the taxation area, I think the question deals with a whole list of things that have been included in our first budget and in the last budget. Madam Speaker, taxation and tax benefits are one piece of it. Our government did make changes, the last government, the 14th Assembly, to the way personal income tax is handled. I think that was beneficial to everyone. We have increased the cost of living allowance. We’ve made those kinds of changes.

Madam Speaker, there are also issues that we think are much broader. For example, we’ve done a lot of work on promoting hydro development as a way of getting the cost of living down, as another example. Madam Speaker, it’s a very broad question and I could stand here for two hours and list the things we have been doing, but I don’t think that’s what the Member wants right now. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Premier Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 70-15(4): NWT Exemption From Goods And Services Tax

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am sure the Premier and the Finance Minister do get the point that I am getting at, which is the fact that anything in this Northern Strategy and anything I have seen since becoming a Member of this Legislative Assembly, the only thing I have seen is us raising taxes. I don’t believe we have taken a good, solid look at how we can decrease the cost of living on our residents. I know other countries around the world have identified certain areas of their country as economic areas of development and things of that nature. I don’t know why the federal government wouldn’t look at Northern Canada as having a similar feel and take a look at us as being different and respect the fact that it does cost more to live in the Northwest Territories and in the other two territories, as well. I would like to ask the Premier if he will take this issue seriously. I do believe the Premier will take it seriously and take it up with the other two northern Premiers and at least start a dialogue on what the federal government can do to help reduce the high cost of living in the three northern territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Premier Handley.

Further Return To Question 70-15(4): NWT Exemption From Goods And Services Tax

Madam Speaker, yes, I will take that very seriously and so do the other northern Premiers. I will raise it again with them. I have to say that the Prime Minister has shown a lot of personal interest in the Northern Strategy and I know that he is also interested. Yes, I will follow up with this, Madam Speaker. Thank you.