Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the challenges we face as MLAs is trying to choose our words very carefully. If I were to stand here and tell you exactly what the people in the Northwest Territories think about the proposed tax increases, I would be escorted from this Chamber in 30 seconds, and they are fighting that.

Good, hardworking people across the Northwest Territories continue to be hit or are proposed to be hit with tax increases. They tasked us as their MLAs to bring this forward and fight this issue on their behalf, and that’s what we have to do. On one hand, we form a cost-of-living committee to try and find ways to reduce the cost of living, and then on the other hand, we are proposing tax increases. I agree some tax increases need to be made, but you’re hitting the wrong people.

You’ve got resource companies, development companies up here bleeding us dry. They are

paying Ottawa. What do we get out of this? Nothing. Nothing. They give us a transfer payment and say, “This is sufficient. Don’t bother us any more until next year.” People across the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, are becoming extremely frustrated. You hear from them. I think every one of us in here has had e-mails or conversations with folks who are really worried about this proposed tax increase.

We don’t benefit from everything that goes on in the Northwest Territories, and I am not going to pretend that we do. I am not going to sugar-coat anything, Mr. Speaker, because we don’t benefit. Until we get our house in order as the Northwest Territories, as leaders across the Northwest Territories, not just this government…. Part of the problem is the leaders across the Northwest Territories have to be leaders and take the next step and do what’s best for the people of the Northwest Territories, because we did make an oath.

I strongly urge this government to explore other revenue options and not continue to kick the good, hard-working people of the NWT — I repeat, of the NWT, not the 3,300 migrant workers who don’t pay anything — while they’re down. They have asked us to look after them, and we should take that responsibility very seriously. Thank you.