Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will also not be supporting this bill, for the reasons I stated previously and, as well, because it is another form of taxing the consumer. In the opinion of the people I represent, we feel it is unfair to people, certainly in tax-based municipalities. We are going to get hit twice with this tax, not only will we be paying when we pay our power bill. It is my understanding that it is going to be attached to each power bill that for the first 700 kilowatts of power used, there will be approximately 35 cents charged. The average bill is two or three times that and, although it is a small amount, it compounds.

Not only that, when larger consumers we depend on for other utilities, for example water for the city, have to pay increased taxes, that will be passed back to the consumer. I feel that the method of supporting and paying for the Public Utilities Board is already there and adequate. It comes out of the general revenues of the Northwest Territories; and it benefits all people, not only those people in tax-based municipalities who are subject to utility bills. I feel it would serve no purpose to try to recover money using this method when it can come in a much simpler form; the way it is currently done. Therefore, when it comes time to vote on it, I will not be supporting it.