Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I’m not sure the Minister actually heard what I said. I never said that that was the only revenues we actually keep, from mining or oil and gas. I think what I’m trying to do here is show that the resource royalty rates that we’ve inherited from the federal government are quite ancient and maybe it’s time that we actually look at those royalty rates. Alberta’s done it a couple of times. Are we actually going to get around to looking at that in terms of our financial future?

The reason why I say that is, when I’ve raised this issue, we actually raised three times as much money from tobacco and liquor as we do from resource revenues that we get to keep. People are actually shocked by that. Are we going to get around to looking at the royalty rates for mining and oil and gas and help retain more of these benefits for programs and services in the Northwest Territories? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will work with my colleague at ITI and see what plans they have for the future. Again, I take the Member’s point and, yes, as we go forward, we may still have mines that we can tax. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O’Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that. I fully recognize that the mining industry has made contributions beyond the resource revenues that we get to keep, but I think it is time that we did look at this issue, especially now that we have jurisdiction and control over it. It does need to be a comprehensive review. It is complex because you have to consider either taxes or forms of revenue, but we’re beyond that now. We’re three years into devolution. We haven’t really looked at that, so I appreciate the commitment from the Minister to ensure that his Cabinet colleagues start the move on this. I look forward to the discussion and debate around retaining more of the revenues for public resources from the resources that are flowing out of here. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Do we have any further comments or questions for pages 124 to 130? Total department. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that committee defer for further conversation of the estimates for Department of Finance at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There is a motion to defer on the floor that is being distributed. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour. All those opposed.

---Carried

Committee, we have deferred the Department of Finance. I will again ask committee -- oh, I’ll thank the witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. I’ll ask, again, what is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Marci cho, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that you rise and report progress. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

I want to thank all the pages for all their hard work today. I will now rise and report progress.

May I have the report? Member for Hay River North.

Masi. Do I have a seconder? Member for Deh Cho.

---Carried

Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Masi, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Friday, March 3, 2017, at 10:00 a.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 6:13 p.m.