Debates of March 14, 2007 (day 2)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Next Monday, the federal Minister of Finance for Canada, Mr. Flaherty, is going to be delivering his budget. There are a few things on that list that I want to take one more opportunity to make sure Mr. Flaherty knows, from the point of view of northerners, we would sure like to see in that budget.

Mr. Speaker, at the very top of the list, of course, goes the desire and the very deserving proposals that we have been looking for resource revenue sharing, Mr. Speaker, and devolution of the control of those resources to the Northwest Territories. Bring those resources and the wealth home, Mr. Speaker.

We have been asking for, after I think it is some 18 years now, a re-evaluation of the northern residents income tax deduction. The cost of living has increased 150 percent since then, Mr. Speaker. We have calculated that, here in the NWT, if you are making an annual wage of about $60,000, by increasing this long-overdue tax accommodation for the cost of living up here, you could have about $840 stay in your pocket if you made $60,000 a year. I think that is something very worthwhile.

Mr. Speaker, we want to see the cuts that the Conservative Party of Canada brought in last fall restored. I would put it at the very top of the restoring the cuts that were made to literacy, Mr. Speaker, and to the volunteers initiative.

One more item on my shopping list for the budget next Monday, Mr. Speaker, is that the Visitor Rebate Program be evaluated to make sure that a GST application, which has never been there before, is not put on the cost of visitors coming into Canada when the product was sold to them offshore, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Braden. Before I go to the next Member, I would like to draw colleagues’ attention to the visitors gallery. There is a group of 16 new officers with Foreign Affairs and International Trades Canada visiting here in the Northwest Territories. Their visit to the Legislative Assembly here today is part of their training to become familiar with economic, political and social issues of Canada prior to their future postings overseas in Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings.

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