Thompson 'very disappointed' in budget
Tough words from MLAs for territorial budget's centralization efforts
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, June 9, 2016
DEH CHO
The 2016-17 territorial budget fell flat with MLAs from the Deh Cho and Nahendeh regions after being introduced in the legislative assembly on June 1.
Following the budget's introduction, Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson said in his budget address he was "very disappointed in the Government of the Northwest Territories," while Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli characterized the GNWT's reliance on federal transfer payments as "a fallacy."
"I think more can be done in terms of focusing on trying to balance ... sources of revenue," Nadli said.
"There could be room for generation of other revenue sources as options, and this budget failed to do that."
In particular, Nadli said, the government should have taken a look at the so-called "sin tax" - that is, tax levels on tobacco and alcohol.
"I know tobacco tax is at its maximum but there's obviously some threshold in terms of making sure it's fair across the board," he said.
Nadli also said the government has moved resources to regional centres, calling it an "unfortunate reality" which pushes resources to Hay River or Fort Simpson.
"In terms of decision-making, in terms of ensuring that the influence still remains fundamentally from the people on the ground, so to speak, at the community level ... input from the communities has to be something very highly regarded," he said.
"That should be something the government should be aware of ... I think that's of utmost importance."
Meanwhile, Thompson was the first MLA in the assembly to address the budget, delivering his address on June 6.
In that address, Thompson compared the introduction of the 2016-17 budget to a similar introduction from 2008-2009.
He contrasted that against statements of disappointment from regular MLAs at the time - some of whom are now cabinet ministers.
"I guess things change when you get to the other side," he said.
Thompson said he was disappointed to see an apparent lack of consultation with lower-level employees in the government.
In the past, he has advocated for the government to meet with those employees for perspective into where cuts could be made.
"I honestly believe if you talk to the people on the ground, in the trenches, they're going to find deficiencies," Thompson said, speaking to the Deh Cho Drum following his address.
"But right now, bureaucrats make decisions at the upper level."
'Frustrating' process
Currently, MLAs are going through business plans for each department. As of June 6, only Education, Culture and Employment had been discussed but Thompson said he had already identified issues with the plan.
"I found out today through ECE there are two half-time positions being cut. One's being transferred to the North Slave office," he said, adding the other position seems to have disappeared entirely.
"In the business plans we've seen ... and I've talked to everyone else, and (on) the sheet of affected employees, that wasn't on there."
Thompson said issues such as that are making the budgetary process frustrating.
"I don't know how many other departments are going to be like this," he said.
"We're going to have to go through these with a fine-tooth comb and ask more questions."
