As Members are aware, at the beginning of the 18th Legislative Assembly, I think even before we sat in this Chamber, the first news we got was our formula financing grant from Canada was cut by $34 million, so we were behind the 8-ball right off the bat. We will take every opportunity, as I have said before, to work with the federal government to see about accessing more funds for the Northwest Territories. They do recognize the cost of doing business up here is higher than the rest of the country. They've made significant infrastructure investments into the Northwest Territories, which in turn has put a lot of people to work, which in turn has allowed them to pay payroll tax, purchase goods, pay all the other taxes that we put on residents who are working. So there has been a side benefit from that, but they do recognize that we are challenged up here, and through a lot of the infrastructure money we welcome that investment and we'll continue to seek more.
Robert C. McLeod on Question 160-18(3): Territorial Financing Formula
In the Legislative Assembly on February 23rd, 2018. See this statement in context.
Question 160-18(3): Territorial Financing Formula
Oral Questions
February 22nd, 2018
See context to find out what was said next.