Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In line with what was just discussed when we were talking about this last motion, at the standing committee on finance we had some concern about municipal surpluses and the ability of hamlets to redirect them. We recognize that there is a very important principle here that you have to respect, and that is that if one hamlet is extremely efficient with managing its money, you do not want to penalize it for having been a good fiscal manager, if you would. But we were concerned that there also has to be the recognition that the funds that hamlets and communities are winding up with, for the most part are paid for by the territorial government in the first place.

We did not feel we should come forward with are commendation saying that all surpluses should be returned to the government, but we do feel that there is room to re-examine the policy as it sits right now and see if it makes sense. We were not confident that it was totally adequate for right now.

Motion To Re-evaluate Policy Allowing Municipalities To Retain And Redirect Surpluses, Carried

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that the committee recommends that the current policy allowing municipalities to retain and redirect surpluses be re-evaluated in light of the current territorial deficit.