Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A short and simple answer is, no.

Any more questions? Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As usual Mr. Todd likes to give me long answers so I will have a long question. In this case, why?

Mr. Todd.

Why? Our position, or my position, certainly on taxes, is that it is my understanding that lottery and gambling revenues are not currently taxed. My position is that the additional dollars that would be generated from taxing either lotteries or bingo, et cetera, would be inconsequential to the kind of fiscal framework that we are currently in and to the level of revenues that are required. Quite frankly, Mr Speaker, it is my understanding that most of these operations, the lottos and bingos, have done a lot for good causes and charitable organizations. I think at this time, if I was asked a question about whether or not I would want to tax and impede the ability of these charities to assist, whether it is the youth, whether it is kids going to hockey, my answer would be no. Not at this time.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult for this Member to ask if it is inconsequential. I do not know what the revenue generation would be. For my own knowledge, I would say to you, Mr. Speaker, when you have X number of bingos, those scratch and win tickets... Now in federal revenue, I understand from some research that I have done, the federal lotteries are not taxed. That is correct. In place of a sin tax, since Mr. Todd seems to be very happy about sin taxes, I would say to you, Mr. Speaker, that gambling in any form can be a sin. Now I am the first person to say no, we should not tax lotteries or any other monies that would be coming in to help charitable organizations. There also those scratch and win cards, and those type of things, that could be looked at which would give us maybe the $600,000 to keep Delta House going, or some other programs. That is what I am asking the Minister. Will I take it that he is going to look at that?

Mr. Todd.

I understand my honoured colleague is concerned about my image and I am very image conscious. My answer to him is no. I am not prepared to look at it, at this time unless there is an inordinate ground swell of concern of taxing people who are out there organizing bingos to help kids go to hockey games and to help people who are under privileged and bowl-a-thons and everything else. The answer is no, no, no!

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Supplementary, Mr. Picco. Final supplementary.

Why, why, why? You know, Mr. Speaker. The point here is, I mean Mr. Todd likes to make it sound like I am the Grinch that stole Christmas, now I want to tax bingos. That is not what I said. I said are there areas like video lottery terminals, scratch and win tickets. Mr. Speaker, there is a myriad of things out there that this Minister could tax to help generate some extra revenue so we could off set the closures of health and care facilities like Delta House, like other programs in Health and Social Services. For some reason, the Minister is not giving me any justification. So I will ask the Minister again. Would the Minister at least look at it for the benefit of all those people in the Northwest Territories who are losing their jobs, Mr. Speaker? Will the Minister at least give some credence to this? I know he likes his image and he has a wonderful image. I love the Northwest Territories, so maybe it will help that wonderful image. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will he look at it? That is my question. Will he look at it?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it is important to clarify there are no VLTs in the Northwest Territories, video lottery terminals. It is my understanding that there is a serious concern now being raised in eastern Canada and Alberta, about the effect of video lotteries on people, and the impact it has on them. I am not prepared, with 22 months left, to look at taxing these kinds of initiatives that Mr. Picco said. I have far greater things to do in the coming 22 months to ensure that, one: we get a good sound, solid, fiscal framework for the two new Territories; two: that we meet the budget targets that we have set; and three: we get some people to work through some creative thinking with some of my colleagues and try to access federal government funding. I am saying to my honourable colleague that at this time, I do not have the time, energy or interest in moving forward on it. If he wishes to get the support of his colleagues, bring forward a motion in support of this House, we will reconsider. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our revenue in alcohol, total alcohol sales, I am told is somewhere in the range of $16 million, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the line of questioning that my honourable colleague is heading in. I want to make it clear that $16 million we get is revenue, not net, I suspect and I do not have the numbers before me, but I suspect and I believe that I understand that we spend more money, although it may not be sufficient as my colleague feels how. We actually spend more money in the, I believe, I stand to be corrected, I always have got a qualifier, I believe we spend more money in the alcohol prevention side than we actually net generate out of the sale of alcohol. I think it is also important that all revenues we get, whether it is in tobacco, which we have got the highest taxes in the country. I

am going to repeat that, Mr. Picco, the highest taxes in the country when it comes to tobacco. Our taxes on alcohol are extremely high. That all goes into the general revenue and is reflected in our balance sheet as it relates to our grants and revenues and is then disbursed through our budgetary process, et cetera. So it is not like this money, revenues from alcohol we will just move it here. It goes into the general revenue fund and is re-distributed through the normal budgetary process. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Todd.