Bob Bromley

That was a very neat, I suppose, side step, if the Minister is looking for praise from that standpoint. The question was plain: What is the cost estimate for the reconstruction of the entire Dettah road? I’m just trying to put things in context. I think I complimented the Minister on the funding for this year and I understand there might be funding for next year. So I guess I’ll have to ask the question again, Mr. Speaker: What is the cost estimate for the reconstruction of the entire Dettah road; to get the whole Dettah road up to standard? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a supplementary appropriation approved by this House is devoting $2 million for reconstruction of the Dettah road this year, with the expectation of further funds next year. The people of Dettah and all who travel there heartily welcome the beginning of the work to build a proper road to this growing community. As anyone who drives the road knows, the work is sorely needed. Making this road construction a priority for use of the Building Canada Fund monies is an encouraging demonstration of our determination to make this project happen. We’re making an...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have the list in front of me. It is listed by department. May I assume, then, that if it is just a department listed and not another entity, that if it is just a GNWT department, that it is, in fact, a GNWT facility that is on that land and it is not leased out to others? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I notice that $9.348 million for environmental liabilities. We are playing catch-up, but I think we are learning how to treat the environment properly. I understand that this is also only part of what our liabilities are that we will be hearing more in the future. Is the Minister assured that we will be taking care of these liabilities so we don’t accrue these sorts of costs in the future, taking care of the environment?

Secondly, is there any kind of estimate of what we can expect for costs the next time around on this same line item, the environmental liabilities...

I appreciate that response and I’ll assume that the answer was yes, the mandate of the review, or the review will include the mandate of the Power Corporation, unless the Minister corrects me.

Will the review of electricity rates also include biomass and -- it’s sort of associated with that -- is there any expertise being offered to the review panel or the expert panel in that area? Thank you.

I’d like to recognize Baptiste Foisey, who is…Many people have seen migratory birds returning; we also have our students returning. So welcome back to Baptiste. I’m told he will be on the job today.

Thank you.

I appreciate the response. I understand the comments from the Minister. Perhaps there is not an estimate of what the future cost will be that are not yet accounted for in this proposal. I am wondering whether any of these that are accounted for with the $9.348 million are Commissioner’s land that is leased to other holders other than GNWT. Are all of these environmental liabilities on Commissioner’s land that we actually are off-buying ourselves?

Finally, Mr. Speaker, and thanks again for the response. The opportunities in biomass even affect the review of the ATCO proposal, and the Premier mentioned that proposal. Consideration of selling off our Power Corporation, of course, has been largely because of costs of electricity. We are pretty convinced that there are some opportunities for reducing those costs and at the same time, increasing or enhancing our local economies and, so, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Yes, just for confirmation, will the Premier commit that even the review of the ATCO proposal, to the degree that it’s...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we learned that the Europeans are very progressive in the area of energy. They bundle heat and power and even broadband and combine them in their utilidor systems emanating from their heating and power plants. Municipal and regional governments provide this service and so does some private enterprise and, really, we’re overdue to recognize that our NWT Power Corporation, our arm’s-length fully owned corporation, needs to be thinking of things like this.

My question is, again, for Minister Roland. We’ll keep him busy today. Basically, will the NWT Power...