The northern Premiers’ chair

wrote to the three territorial Finance Ministers requesting that the Finance Ministers work together to develop an approach and a rationale for engaging the federal government to seek an increase in the northern residents deduction. They asked for a progress report by October 31, 2012, and a final report by January 31, 2013. So on October 31, 2012, on behalf of the three territorial Finance Ministers, Nunavut’s Finance Minister provided the northern Premiers with a report and a possible work plan. The report noted that increasing the northern residents deduction would decrease personal income tax revenue for federal, territorial and some provincial governments and would only benefit high income northern taxpayers. In addition, support of six provinces whose northern residents also received the northern residents deduction would need to be reconfirmed if the Northwest Territories wished to pursue this initiative further. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.