Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, without knowing if we are getting close to an agreement stage, I couldn't tell you if we would benefit $1 million more, or $50 million more. We just know that the existing exercise is costing us $50 million a year ongoing if it doesn't get fixed. We feel we have a good example that it is not working properly, and feel that the federal Department of Finance has recognized that. That is why he has agreed to forego the rebasing exercise for 2004-05. If I stood here today and said if it is $20 million, let's match that in reductions. If it doesn't happen I would have given you the wrong information. We are too early in that stage. Right now as things are going on, it depends on what year they measure our tax effort on. It could impact those negotiations, so that is one of the reasons why on our side of safeguarding our revenue base through one of the initiatives I put forward in the budget address. So I couldn't give the Member an accurate figure going forward. All I know is I have one year to come up with a new tax effort situation. They will not get rid of tax effort, it is a matter of how it works out in the system, and what numbers will be used, and how they will be weighted. Thank you.
Floyd Roland on Question 73-15(3): Benefits Of The Federal Budget
In the Legislative Assembly on March 24th, 2004. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question 73-15(3): Benefits Of The Federal Budget
Question 73-15(3): Benefits Of The Federal Budget
Item 6: Oral Questions
March 23rd, 2004
Page 251
See context to find out what was said next.