Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in his budget announcements, the Minister of Finance told us that he is going to create a committee to provide him with advice on tax on income. Last week, he named the members to that committee, and I noticed there was a name change of that committee. It is now Tax on Income and Tax Advisory Committee.

Mr. Speaker, the people who have been named to that committee are all highly qualified tax practitioners. I know most of them personally and admire their commitment, and I am certain they will do their best to provide the Minister with good advice. In fact, I know they are all eminently capable of giving good advice to the Minister, particularly in the area of the technical issues to improve our tax system.

However, Mr. Speaker, when I look at the terms of reference for this committee, a lot of the advice the Minister appears to be seeking is not technical in nature. I will give you some examples.

From the terms of reference, it says that in relation to TONI, there are a number of options available to the GNWT in setting rates and credits. It could make its personal tax rates more or less progressive. That is a social issue, Mr. Speaker. That means the tax for lower income earners is less or the upper income earners is less. To change the territorial portion of credits, like the tuition and education amounts, or to change taxable income brackets.

Another point made in the terms of reference, it notes that changes to these components of the personal income tax system will also reflect the Cost of Living Tax Credit and the NWT Child Benefit, all of which depend on the level of income earned by a taxpayer.

In another area, it says the recommendations to the Minister should focus on the GNWT's need to address the "unique social and economic priorities of the Territories". There we are talking about social and economic priorities. These are not technical issues. Mr. Speaker, this goes on to suggest that when talking about the efficiency of the tax system, incentives should contribute demonstrably to policy goals.

Mr. Speaker, I would argue that much of the advice the Minister is seeking is on tax policy issues, not on technical ones. Policy, many would argue, should be independent of technical issues. I would argue that we should set policy first, and then try to find ways to implement the policy. That may require some very technically able people to make sure the tax system really does reflect the tax policy that we want to implement.

Mr. Speaker, in a non-partisan consensus-style government, if you want to seek policy advice, you should make sure the advice comes from a representative group. It should be gender balanced. It should reflect the population with a representative mix of aboriginal and non-aboriginal people.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.