Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the commercial fishermen of the Northwest Territories are struggling to earn a living. With the present economic times and marketing conditions, it is extremely hard for them to do so. A substantial component of the expense of commercial fishing is the cost of fuels, gasoline and diesel. These fuels are required for boats, bombardiers, generators; all equipment which do not use roads or highways. Yet, with every litre of fuel that the fishermen purchase, they contribute an average of ten cents to the maintenance of the territorial road system.
In the Northwest Territories, we have the Petroleum Products Tax Act, which sets the taxes on various petroleum products. Mr. Speaker, a portion of this taxation does not recognize that there are many who must purchase fuel for vessels, machinery and equipment that is not used on roads or highways.
An honourable Member brought this issue to the attention of the House in 1995 and suggested that the government review its policy on taxing fuel. Mention was made at that time of a program in the Prairie Provinces whereby farmers receive breaks on fuel taxes through the availability of a product designated as purple gas. The government of the day decided that it would be too costly to administer and I agree. It would be cumbersome and the costs would probably outweigh the benefits.
Mr. Speaker, there is another way. This would be in the form of a rebate. When commercial fishermen purchase quantities of fuel, their receipts could be sent back to the government annually for a rebate of the tax which applied to the road maintenance. This system would not require the colouring of fuel or delivery of the refund at the pump and would not be costly to administer, but it would rectify the unfair practice of taxing enterprises that do not use the infrastructure of roads and highways.
Mr. Speaker, this proposed rebate would not be breaking new ground. The Treasury Department in Alberta uses a rebate system for commercial off-road industries. This government implemented a commercial power subsidy rebate program based on annual submissions with accompanying receipts in the past. I would not see this rebate as being much different. I have a suggestion which could facilitate this assistance to the fishermen while not disrupting the support that the fuel tax provides to the cost of our road system. Each winter, the private sector along with the territorial government spends additional dollars on an expanded winter road system for the seasonal delivery of products to off-road communities and to mine sites.
Between January 1 and March 31 in 1997, the Department of Transportation issued permits, licensing heavy trucks, totalling 1,040 in number and a total revenue was generated of $393,236. Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.