Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m rising on the heels of my Member’s statement, which I want to continue the questions about working for the everyday family, which, of course, cost is pretty tough on them. Speaking to the question of gasoline, payday loans and cell phone contracts, heavy scrutiny needs to be put on these things.
So my question is to somebody over there in Cabinet, I’m not sure to who we will direct the question to, but the question is: What powers and opportunities avail themselves to the consumer affairs division to deal with these types of problems to demonstrate there is transparency when it comes to fuel pricing, payday loans and cellphone contracts for Northerners? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the fundamental question is what type of government or what kind of society does the Member envision. He’s calling for government regulation quite regularly in all areas of people’s lives and there is some free market characteristics here that we have in our country that are important. There are things we can do with gas, there are things we can do in some areas, but the fundamental question is what type of society is the Member proposing? What level of government regulation does he expect this government to create so we don’t exist in every facet of everybody’s lives? Thank you.
Thank you. I guess it’s my job to answer my questions and not be posed them by the government, I guess.
My next question, if the Finance Minister wishes to answer rather than pose a question back to me is, of course, what powers of investigation does the consumer affairs division have in their own ability under the Consumer Affairs Act to go out, scrutinize some of these particular issues as I’ve highlighted, which are gasoline pricing, payday loans and cellphone contracts, in the public’s interest? Thank you.
Thank you. We have authorities, two in fact, that go out under the consumer affairs bill to look at areas where there are complaints, where there may be concerns. When those are brought forward, they’re dealt with appropriately. Thank you.
Thank you. I really wish we had an expert on the act here today because the act only gives a reactionary power. What is the government willing to do to provide proactive powers to do investigations that protect consumers, protect working families, especially in the area I’ve highlighted, such as gasoline, payday loans and cellphone contracts, that put Northerners first? Thank you.
Thank you. This government does put people first when you look at the amount of money we spend on social programs, the type of infrastructure we have, the services to people at all levels and ages in our communities. When it comes to protecting them in the marketplace, that’s an area where we’d have to look carefully. Once again, the Member makes strong statements about wanting to know what we’re going to do. I’m not sure if he wants some type of police state. It’s not clear to me. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I could sit here and point to the loopholes provided by the Minister’s answer about our customers, and certainly our everyday families that are working to get by, but the question is: What proactive powers can be put into place for consumer protection to ensure that they are being protected over the pariah of poaching, whether it’s high fees, lack of transparency or certainly being held hostage by being the only retailer? We want to put Northerners first. What powers can be put into the Consumer Affairs Act to protect our citizens, not leave them at risk? I would like the Minister to actually answer the question. Thank you.
Thank you. We’re back to the position where I do answer the questions and the Member doesn’t like the answer. So if the committee has specific suggestions in terms of regulatory reform that will address the concerns of the Member, then let us see them, and as we move forward with the business planning process and when we look at the time we have left in our legislative agenda, if there are changes that are agreed to, we’d be happy to consider those. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
