Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about the high cost of living and what the government wants to do to help the citizens of the Northwest Territories with this. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance mentioned a tax credit yesterday in one of his statements to help with the high cost of living.

I agree with anything that will put money back into the pockets of the people of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. I have to question the method the Minister would like to use to give money back to the people, to assist them with the cost of living.

When you introduce a tax that is based on salaries, I think it is discriminatory between low-income earners and people who make a fairly good wage. What he is introducing will give $177 to every member of the community, or a person in the Northwest Territories who makes $66,000 or more. It is staggered as the salary goes down. Not to mention the fact that it does not help an individual who has four or five kids and one income earner in the home. It does not address the fact that the cost of living affects all people in the Northwest Territories.

It does not address the fact that there are two reserves in the Northwest Territories who do not pay taxes and do not file claims. There are some aboriginal communities in my constituency, Treaty 8, which believe that they should not have to pay taxes. That is an arrangement between them and the federal government. They will not qualify for it. People on income support may not qualify for it.

There are too many outstanding questions. I do not understand why we have to rush this tax. The argument that Mr. Handley uses is to be able to implement with the federal government so that we can qualify for this year and next year's tax return. The road toll, if it is approved, does not kick in until January.

Mr. Speaker, I do not think we should rush this. I think we should give it a little more thought and possibly look at other methods of putting money back into people's pockets that are fair to everyone, that recognizes the different living conditions, the different political initiatives, and is basically a fair system. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.