Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak briefly on the issue of the hotel tax. As a result of the reply received from the Minister yesterday, Mr. Speaker, very clearly the government of the Northwest Territories is always looking for opportunities to increase revenues so they can support better programs in critical areas like education and health.
As well, we know there has been an internal committee looking at options such as this. Last week, the Minister announced a hotel tax in this House. The idea of $1.25 million to be reinvested into tourism sounds good and positive on the surface. However, when I asked the Minister how much of that money would actually come from government itself, the reply I received indicated that $1.5 million to $2 million was what employees spend on accommodations in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, that is very low and is only part of the equation.
It does not capture hotel costs that are directly or indirectly incurred by government. For example, we have to look at hotel use by boards and agencies of government, including municipalities who get a majority of funding from government and medical travel which is paid for by the Northwest Territories. What about contractors and consultants who travel on GNWT contracts, where any hotel tax would just be added to the bills sent back to the government?
Mr. Speaker, in travels to different communities, hotels and bed and breakfasts are usually full of people on government business in one way or another. The Minister himself acknowledged that if you add those factors into the equation, it significantly changes the five to six percent he quoted in the House yesterday. Looking at potential revenues, Mr. Speaker, it might be better to look at how many tourists come to the Northwest Territories, which may give us a more realistic picture of actual revenue.
It is a legitimate exercise for the government to try to raise revenues. However, Mr. Speaker, the issue is, are we being realistic about net results? I would ask the Minister to consider tabling the calculations that clearly show how this $1.25 million in projected revenues was arrived at. People want to know that the government is using blue-chip information and numbers in its calculations. After four and a half years, Mr. Speaker, as an MLA, I can clearly tell you I am very familiar with how very fluid, almost like liquid mercury, the government fiscal projections can be. Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.