Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be prepared to give us some of the reasons as to why the department would have such policies and programs?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, we have a number of policies to support northern businesses. The policies are in place to support the various needs that are there.

For example, we have a policy on business development funds that is broken into a number of programs to help people in smaller businesses. From small business grants and loans, all the way through to medium size businesses. We also have a process of Community Futures Organizations, which can make loans to businesses where in that circumstance at the regional level, loans are more appropriate.

We have a Business Credit Corporation, which deals with the larger businesses. Through the Business Credit Corporation, companies can qualify for up to a million dollars in a loan and that can be somewhat smaller or up to that amount.

We also have the Northwest Territories Development Corporation, which is there to help ventures that are struggling to survive and also to assist in the operation of subsidiaries, where although a private business may not be able to manage it financially, it is a worthwhile venture because of the employment it creates.

So there is a whole host of reasons why we have these policies, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has confirmed, I think, the importance of these programs, particularly the economic diversification and job creation for northern manufacturing.

Will the Minister give us the assurance that all departments are aware of this government's investment in northern manufacturing firms and that they follow the manufacturers' directive? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, last week I confirmed that I would have the chairman of the Business Incentive Policy Steering Committee, the deputy minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, who chairs the committee, do a reminder to all of the departments that all government department agencies are subject to that policy.

If that has not been done already, then it is certainly being done within the next few days. I think, in that way, we can ensure that all departments are aware of it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member from Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question today for the Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley, and it is about the hotel tax.

When Mr. Handley first presented the hotel tax concept to Ordinary Members a couple of weeks before he unveiled it in the House, he gave us, at that time, his best estimate for what he felt it would cost to administer the hotel tax. I believe he said it was $250,000.

Can the Minister confirm if that is still his best estimate for what the administration of this tax will cost? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The initial estimate was $250,000. My department continued to work on what systems would be in place for administering it. They now tell me that $100,000, somewhere in that range, is probably more accurate than the $250,000 which we had used, being conservative in the first place.

My estimate at this point is closer to the $100,000 mark. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for confirmation, I am a little bit confused, but I think, in the matter of a couple of short weeks, the Minister was able to cut the amount of administration by two and a half times? Is that correct? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. We are working very hard on it and I am sure that we are going to be as diligent and thorough as possible in ensuring that we do not use up any more of this than absolutely necessary for administration.

The whole objective of this new tax is to reinvest it back into tourism, and I intend to do my best to make sure that every dollar possible goes back into tourism to support that very important industry for us.

I am discussing with my staff. I am aiming at the $100,000 area, not the $250,000, as being the likely figure. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I ask the Minister how we went from $250,000 to $100,000? Was it initially assumed that it would take three or four people to administer and now we are down to one? I am just wondering. It seems like a drastic change, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering if the Minister could give us some indication of how he whittled from $250,000 to $100,000 in two weeks time? Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, it is basically through, I think, very thorough responsible work and I have to give my staff a lot credit for finding ways of doing this. This is really moving from looking at the equivalent of two people needing to do this down to, saying ''No, we can piggy back on some of the systems we have right now.'' We believe we can do it with one person and that is what we are aiming at doing.

I think the staff are doing an excellent job and working hard on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to applaud the staff for their efforts as well. They have done quite a job in getting this thing from $250,000 to administer down to $100,000.

-- Applause

Certainly a pat on the back, but I am wondering if the Minister might agree that maybe this thing has not been analyzed very carefully and maybe we need to really take a look at this to make sure we have the right numbers here, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, I really am pleased that the Member has realized why we announced this initiative at this time and allow a lot of time for consultation because we are not, between myself and the department, going to pretend that we have all of the answers. We want to consult with industry, tourism people, hotel operators and so on.

So there are a number of months, as I said before, where we intend to continue to refine this and make sure that every dollar that is generated that can possibly be put into tourism goes to support the tourism industry.

I am sure there are going to be new ideas coming forward over the next few months. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.