Thank you. I think we have embarked on what I consider to be a good process, and I'm optimistic that that will be a useful process. I think it's a matter of getting the federal government's attention to some of our unique challenges and needs. Obviously it's very important. We're talking about flexibility, we're talking about tax burden; all of these things can provide an economic stimulus. We've had a lot of discussion lately about the need to have a competitive tax regime that allows people to keep the most money possible in their pockets so that they have more money available for developing their economic opportunities and ideas. Also, as the Member has already indicated to me, we need to make sure that every available banking tool is at our disposal so that people don't have to go outside the Territories for these services, so that they can access them right here at home. I know the problem, and the challenge is further exacerbated in the smallest communities, not so much probably in Yellowknife and the regional centres. That's a challenge that we have to find a way to meet head on. We do have our BCC which is a lender of last resort and takes higher risk, but there certainly is a need to make sure we have a full gambit of banking programs and of lending programs, and whether that will all be consolidated with the auspices of the BDIC or not, or whether there will be sort of pieces of other programming attached to that I think is some good discussion that we're really in the preliminary stage here. But I hear the Member's concerns and I hear the Member cautioning us to make sure that we use all the tools in the toolbox and make sure that we provide maximum flexibility to our residents. Thank you.
Brendan Bell on Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
In the Legislative Assembly on March 22nd, 2004. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 3-15(3): To Delete $120,000 From The Financial Management Board Secretariat Budgeting And Evaluation Re Foregone Interest, Defeated
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 22nd, 2004
Page 178
See context to find out what was said next.