Mr. Chairman, I agree with the Member that if we really want to know what is the true cost of providing fuel in all of the communities, then you have to add in all of the costs including the tankage, everything that goes with it. We had a discussion in the committee about this issue and I agree as well that this probably isn't the best way to provide a subsidy. If the way we are doing it is subsidizing the cost of fuel to consumers, this may not be the best way of doing it. If we're going to do that and if we want to show the true costs, then we need to design some form of territorial fuel subsidy program that would keep the cost of fuel in small communities at a reasonable rate. That is something that I think in the future we need to look at, or the next government has to look at, to figure out how we do this, and I think there is time for us to do some work in the life of this government but we may not resolve it all. It's complex because we don't have POL in every community, and how do we work it all out, but I think it is good advice for moving on from here. My view is we are not going to collect the $4.1 million from the small communities. Let's not pretend we're going to do it. Let's take it out of here and put it into our books properly, charge the government and the housing corporation the full cost and try to maintain this at some level of break even without hitting the private customers and all the small communities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Joe Handley on Bill 3: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2002-2003
In the Legislative Assembly on March 13th, 2003. See this statement in context.
Bill 3: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2002-2003
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 12th, 2003
Page 767
See context to find out what was said next.