Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in keeping with my Member's statement, my question is for the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, in most of our seniors programs, there seems to be a cutoff point where you either fit in the category where you get all the benefits or you do not get any of the benefits.

Mr. Speaker, under the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act that was written back in 1989, senior citizens can apply for property relief. This act is an old act.

I was wondering if the Minister could inform this House whether there is anything being done to revise this act or bring it up to date? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the department is working diligently to try to rectify some of the inadequacies within that policy. It is going to take some time. We had some time frames developed for that. We are also reviewing the old policies of a number of the departments, seeing where we could make improvements, and that would be reported back. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the present act, for some, especially tax-based, communities, the municipal government pays half of the property tax under the act and MACA pays the other half. Can the Minister inform me as to who has the final say as to who qualifies for the property tax relief and who does not? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I am familiar with the policy at this time, I believe that municipal governments are responsible for administering the policy as it ties in at the tax-base level.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Could the Minister inform us as to what the limit is that one member of the household can earn and senior citizens can still qualify for the tax relief?

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not familiar with the situation, the problem with the specific Member, but I will have our department check into it and get back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Allen. Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in most households, both members of the household pay for the cost of operating a home. Would the Minister consider looking at a situation where if only one member is working and the income is very low, would the Minister look at providing at least half of the tax relief to the senior citizen? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I believe if it applies to a senior, we can take a look at it very closely. I will get some answers back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Allen. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions flow from my earlier statement and they are to the Minister of Finance about our small business tax policy, Mr. Speaker. My question is, with these issues before us and internally in his department currently, I am wondering what direction this Finance Minister will be suggesting to his colleagues around the Cabinet table with regard to small business tax. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, following on earlier questions and answers, I will assure the Member that as we look at our tax structure, we will certainly attempt to do it through the normal business planning process and consult with the Members.

On small business taxes, we are monitoring what is happening across the country and realize the need for us to remain competitive. Thank you.

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

I am glad we recognize the need to stay competitive. I was making that very statement on September 15, 2000. Nothing happened for this year, so I am concerned, although we say we are paying attention, we do not seem to be following through with anything.

I am wondering if the Minister can let us know when Cabinet will come back specifically with the report on the review of BIP. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, BIP is on my desk. It will be going to Cabinet within the next meeting or two, if it does not get on the next agenda. I expect to be able to have it available to Members as soon as it is approved by Cabinet. Thank you.