Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Canadians are pretty clear that they're fed up with the consumer carbon tax in this country. No matter who the next Prime Minister's going to be, there isn't going to be a consumer carbon tax. So my question to the Minister responsible for -- the Minister of Finance, is she ready to ditch the consumer carbon tax in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Finance.
Mr. Speaker, it's -- I mean, I may have my own personal views as well but let's keep it to the processes here. And, Mr. Speaker, if or when this tax gets cancelled on a federal level, this Assembly can certainly expect to be revisiting that issue as well. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, we're often accused of being slow to move as a government. We have a bill that can be brought forward and axe the tax tomorrow. So is the Minister willing to support that legislation, Bill 3, and get rid of the carbon tax in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, until there's a change in the federal legislation, we are still obligated to comply with some form of carbon taxation and so, again, pending what may or may not be happening on a federal level or when, then we will certainly want to make sure that we're ready, and it's very helpful and handy to have something at the ready when that day comes. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I find it unlikely that a prorogued parliament and a government paralyzed by a leadership contest is going to be ready to impose the backstop. Let's give Northerners a carbon tax holiday until the feds can sort their business out. Can the Minister commit to giving Northerners a carbon tax holiday until the federal election? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I'm not mistaken, this particular bill actually might be with committee and so not for me to comment further on here. And as far as trying to circumvent whether or not we're supposed to comply with a federal law, again, Mr. Speaker, the only response I really can give is that we are supposed to comply with the federal law. But, again, the bill is before committee and so certainly happy to see how that process may unfold. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the committee were to be supportive -- well, that's a hypothetical.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister -- the Minister can also zero out the regs. She doesn't need legislation. She could make the regs zero dollars for the tax, zero dollars for the revenue. Is the Minister willing to do that? Again, we have a golden opportunity to give Northerners a break for a couple of months. The Minister, lower our cost of living, give Northerners a break, give them a carbon tax holiday. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have on many an occasion provided this House, both this government and the last, with my own frustrations with this carbon tax and the bit of stink I've raised with the federal Ministers responsible for putting us in the situation we are in.
Mr. Speaker, certainly, again, happy to go and look at it and if there's a way that I can appropriately and responsibly get ourselves out from underneath this tax, that's fine. It's not really a time where I necessarily want to try to stick it to the federal government or make something difficult or suggest that we're not on side with a federal piece of legislation. So, again, Mr. Speaker, it's -- this is not a tax that is well implemented in the North. We've all said that here. We just want to make sure that we are on side with the rules and regulations from the federal government and that we are doing so in a way that is -- especially particularly at this juncture with what's happening internationally that we're doing so in a way that's respectful and responsible as a member of Team Canada. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
