Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to say a few words too. I share the concern that other Members have on spending. I think for the most part the budget, obviously, is something we all agreed to. Given the difficult times we’re in, I think it’s a good budget all in all. Going forward, I think we have to keep our eye on spending. I think if the government sets targets on reductions, they should try to keep those targets in mind.
I’m also looking forward to some tangible work coming out of the program review office, because I do believe that there are areas in our operation where we can look to more efficiencies and we can do things a little bit better, Mr. Speaker. It’s obvious that revenue is going to be an issue for the government going forward. The high cost of living is hurting people. It’s hurting people in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith and even more so in the smaller communities in the Northwest Territories. I think we always have to keep our residents in mind when it comes to revenue. I don’t want to see the Government of the Northwest Territories implementing any more taxation or things that are going to negatively impact residents on the ground in the Northwest Territories.
We have to start looking more long-term in the area of revenue. I’ve spoken many times about the government’s lack of an equity stake in the Mackenzie Gas Project. I think we should be taking every opportunity as a government. I mean, let’s face it, our future here in the Northwest Territories is going to hinge on resource extraction from our Territory, and our government should be taking every opportunity to get involved in the resource extraction and getting some benefits for the people that we represent. We could use that as a revenue source for years and years to come, Mr. Speaker. I think we have to start looking at that.
Also, I was happy to hear the Finance Minister talk about a heritage fund. I think that’s an important part of our future as well. How we fund that, how that works...You know, getting back to the equity stake in a potential pipeline or resource
development, we could take some of that revenue and put it into the heritage fund. Fund the heritage fund through those investments and I think it will pay dividends well into the future, Mr. Speaker.
Also, one issue, and not too many people want to talk about this, Mr. Speaker, but it’s the issue of gaming. I’m not saying or suggesting that the government rush headlong into building a casino in the Northwest Territories, but in terms of revenue, almost every jurisdiction in our country is looking to gaming as a way to boost their revenues. With the exception of two provinces, every province in this country has gone to gaming. They’re making millions of dollars. What I’m suggesting, Mr. Speaker, is perhaps the government could take a look at what we’re losing. When people travel south, they travel to Edmonton or B.C. or to Las Vegas, they take their money with them and most of the people, Mr. Speaker, will leave their money in those destinations, in Las Vegas or Edmonton. I think it’s important that we try to get a handle on what people are taking away with them and what we’re losing as a government in potential revenue. I think it’s something that unless we know what we’re dealing with, I don’t know how we can make a decision. I do think gaming, in some way, shape or form, does have the opportunity to provide this government with some additional revenue. Those revenues could be put back into social programs, Mr. Speaker, at some point in time. What I’m trying to say is I don’t think we should turn our back on any potential revenue source. The taxation that hits people and increases the cost of living is something that I think we have to be super cautious about, Mr. Speaker.
The other day I was speaking about the jobs that are located in Gatineau and in Ottawa. Those jobs, devolution or no devolution, pertain to activity in the three northern territories, Mr. Speaker. Those jobs rightfully belong in the three northern territories. Whether we have devolution or not, those jobs and this government should be doing everything in their power to suggest to the federal government that these jobs are located in Iqaluit, in Whitehorse, in Yellowknife or somewhere else in the Northwest Territories. That has to happen, Mr. Speaker. We can continue on with the devolution negotiations and talks, but those jobs have to be moved here, Mr. Speaker. They’re high paying jobs -- most of them are in the range of $90,000 to $100,000 a year -- and most of these people that are working on those files haven’t even stepped foot North of 60. That’s the sad reality. Even though they’re dealing with social development and development of the three northern territories, they’re not even here. They need to be on the ground here, Mr. Speaker.
With that, again, I’d like to thank the government for the work. I know it was a good go-between with the
government. It seemed a lot less adversarial, the budget process, this time out. I think, Mr. Speaker, that’s because we had an opportunity to sit down with the Ministers and with the departments to go through it. Certainly this time I felt much more included in the process than I did last time. I want to thank the government for that and thank you.