Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the areas that affects considerably is the ability for the tax-based municipalities to deliver their programs. It is nice for us to say as a government that we are doing all kinds of things to get ready for oil and gas and future developments, and at the same time provide the same level of programs we are giving to our people.
Unfortunately, at the tax-based municipalities level, when they are suffering cuts, it is hard for them to continue that same level of program delivery. I know Hay River is struggling pretty bad as far as capital projects are concerned. They have just done a study for increased recreation facilities. The only way they can see possibly ever being able to accomplish that is they put out a study and a proposal to user groups. These are mostly non-profit organizations. If they can raise $2 million in the next two years, they figure that will put them close enough in their funding to go to a plebiscite to see if the ratepayers of Hay River would eat up the rest to allow them to borrow the money, but that would still mean close to a 15 point increase in their taxes.
Personally, having been involved in a number of non-profit organizations and sport bodies, it is a pretty big wish to try to raise $2 million in two years out of a community the size of Hay River and still try to maintain their own programs they have going on at the same time.
From my past experience, they have a hard time surviving, let alone trying to raise an extra $2 million. That is definitely a concern.
Another big area there is a problem in the Hay River area with Commissioner's lands, lands that are controlled by the department. Being adjacent to lands that belong to, although they are in the jurisdiction of Hay River, how they are taxed and the process businesses have to go through to locate on Commissioner's lands and how that affects the tax-based municipalities. I heard the department say that they are looking at that area as well and how they could address that problem.
If I could, I would like to ask the department what they have in mind for that.