Bob Bromley

Thank you, Madam Chair. The second one, I’m not astute enough to understand or have the context to understand that one, but I’ll explore that one maybe out of the House. Thank you for that response.

I also see the increase of operating expenses, and perhaps that’s included in the response I got, but operating expenses of about $600,000 and the Member’s pension expenses are about $400,000. I think that was part of the explanation I just heard. But the first one, are there some details I could have on that? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Very interesting, of course, to see this new division in the department, and maybe I could just start off by getting some clarity on how this department will work with others. I see an energy project-focused division that will lead the implementation of local renewable and alternative energy solutions in NWT communities. Obviously, we need community energy systems that would address the cost of living. That’s probably one of the biggest things along with greenhouse gas emissions. So we’re talking, to some extent, community energy systems. I have to wonder how this...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don’t think it’s our responsibility alone, obviously, to provide infrastructure for industry, so I appreciate that expectation that industry would participate in reducing the cost to residents and taxpayers.

Is that work anticipated to be completed during the life of this fiscal year, so it doesn’t need to be part of next fiscal year’s project? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the end of this sitting nears, we are only six to eight months away from a territorial election and with it an opportunity for concerned citizens to take a leadership role in the governance of our people, lands and resources. We have all heard criticisms, frustrations and suggestions from residents and constituents. Now is the time for individuals to consider stepping forward to provide leadership and to put their ideas into action.

As John Todd, an alumnus of this House, was fond of saying, “If you don’t like the government policies, get elected.” Politics is not a...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think this is where obviously there is a matter of scale here for the smaller communities. They’re not going to have the volume to be able to provide the same services and so there’s a real opportunity for government to plug in there and provide the subsidy needed. This is a cost recovery project for the government, and of course we will be enjoying some financial benefits from it, so it’s a good opportunity for us to make sure that the very best services can be provided and make even the smallest communities competitive and give them an advantage for participation in...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just had one question here. I know there’s so much expertise in this division, and I know the Minister is aware that we’re putting a Mackenzie Valley fibre optic line that’s meant to enhance the access to the Internet and opportunities for education and health and so on services. I wonder if I can get the perspective of this department.

First of all, has the department looked at that project? Are they providing advice on that project?

The one other I had was I was out with Premier McLeod when we erected the wind monitoring pole or tower out at Giant Mine. That’s been two or three years ago now. I suspect it’s been three years ago. Do we know what the findings have been there and do we have the wind resources for wind generation in the capital city? Thank you.

That’s all I had there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I know in the community energy systems that we’ve looked at, we’ve had a couple of feasibility projects done in communities such as Lutselk’e and Whati, perhaps others, I think maybe Deline, where things are technically feasible but they’re very costly to do. We are in a point, as we’ve heard from the Minister, where fossil fuel prices are down right now. This was highlighted by the Diavik expert on wind. You see this with successful businesses, when prices drop and we know it’s going to be so likely for a period of time, maybe a year or two or three, who knows, they...