Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about municipal taxes. Mr. Speaker, recently we have been hearing a lot about concerned citizens who are concerned about increasing taxes in Yellowknife. But I would like to talk about the forgotten taxpayer and, Mr. Speaker, those are the seniors for whom the municipal taxes are a constant concern. That is because most of them are on fixed incomes and cannot afford to pay municipal taxes. Many of those people who live in Yellowknife, seniors, want to continue living here. They may have worked for years in order to acquire their homes, and now it is time to relax and time to enjoy their retirement. That is why the GNWT instituted a municipal tax program so seniors would not have to pay taxes.

In the general taxation area, Mr. Speaker, this is true, seniors do not have to pay taxes. But in the tax-based municipalities, this may not necessarily be true. The way it works is that the GNWT pays half and the municipal government forgives the other half. The problem is that, in Yellowknife, they have instituted a maximum which you cannot go over. If the tax is over that maximum, then the senior has to pay the rest. This is where the problem comes because a senior may have a large house and property, but if they are living on a fixed income, it does not necessarily mean they can afford to pay those taxes.

This is why, a while back, the ordinary Members passed a motion saying that seniors need to be treated equally in the general taxation area and the tax-based municipalities as well. They asked for a means test so that those who can afford to pay would pay and those who cannot afford, would not have to. This is only in those communities where there has been a maximum ceiling put on. At the last session, the Minister responsible for this had indicated that he would look into this motion that we had passed and see what had happened with that motion. So at the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the appropriate Minister questions on this matter. Thank you.

--Applause