Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up today on the statement I made yesterday regarding the fuel rebate policy.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate that I applaud the Minister for introducing this policy that would give help to many who would not otherwise get it. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, there are glaring gaps and inequities in the policy that have been brought to our attention by our constituents. These are valid concerns that ought to be considered. Solutions to these need not be too complex or time consuming to bring about.
The fact is, Mr. Speaker, high fuel costs for running our vehicles and buildings are hurting all of us in our pockets. If this rebate is meant to alleviate that burden for some of us, the basic criteria has to be that the money goes to those who are paying for the fuel bill. I would think that by any standards, this is a pretty straightforward and common sense suggestion.
If the Minister is suggesting, as he did in his answers yesterday, that this is meant to help the working poor as an income supplement, regardless of whether or not their rent went up or they are actually paying the heating bill -- which I will not deny anyone from getting -- this is not still a fuel rebate then. It should not be called as such. That only misleads the public into false expectations. We are receiving many calls from people who want to know how they are qualifying.
Mr. Speaker, I think the bottom line is that we are all hurting and we need a little break. We should also not forget about the commercial users who are running businesses or apartment buildings who could use a break like this, maybe something similar, and who is not necessarily able to pass it on to anyone and they are in a position of having to eat it, and it is eating on their profit, or most of them are running at a marginal level.
Mr. Speaker, for all of these reasons, I would suggest two things could be done that would make it more simple and straightforward. They are:
- • To bring down the NWT tax on the fuel a little across the board so everyone will benefit; or
- • To increase the tax credit for everyone by a little, so that everyone could benefit.
I would think, Mr. Speaker, that this is simple and not complex. It would certainly be a lot more equitable than this rebate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause