Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for Premier McLeod, following up on my statement from earlier today on related issues.

Recently, Cabinet announced that rather than pass on the true cost of power generated by diesel due to the hydro shortfall we are experiencing because of climate-change- induced drought in our hydro-generating system, the government would provide a direct subsidy yet again, this time to the tune of $20 million.

Public Works, of course, is replete with hundreds of examples of reducing energy costs through infrastructure with short payback periods.

Is there an equal...

Thank you. A key feature of this approach must be community participation that accrues benefits to communities. To achieve this, we must invest in community-owned energy systems if we want to build local economies, address cost of living and restore the environment. The time for a serious renewable commitment has come. If not now, when? If not us, who? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I see this supp includes a special warrant, which I appreciate. I think this is an important opportunity, obviously, for us to be commenting on special warrants when they come forward in supps like this. It’s an important opportunity for Members of this House to share their perspectives, and special warrants, as we know, are expenditures that are made on an emergency basis typically almost by definition when it has to be done and we really can’t afford to go through the process of approval at the time, but it does allow a retrospective look at things and public discussion...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just had one question. I see there was quite an increase from our capital estimates last year, I guess, the current year that we’re in, ’14-15, from the figure presented, $329,000 up to almost double, and I’m just wondering if I can get an explanation of what accounts for the increase from $329,000 to $657,000 there.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am just wondering: I am not familiar with wildland fire engine. If I can get some understanding of that since I am supposed to be approving this budget. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I guess I would seek more clarity. There was a lot of fluff in that response. Some early consultation and then moving into consultations in 2015 and 2016 and rollout in 2015-2016. I’m not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling here. We’re looking for some steady progress here and I think the Minister knows that.

Can we expect April 1st of 2015 there will be some implementation happening on the ground in the Beau-Del? Mahsi.

Thank you. If memory serves – and I can always look this up – the schedule after Beau-Del, I believe, was to return to Yellowknife and the Tlicho, so ’15-16.

Can I assume that ’16-17 will be Yellowknife? Mahsi.

I would ask the Premier to reread that principle for himself in some nice quiet time when he can fully comprehend it. Being constantly aware of the principles that we all swore an oath to and honouring the spirit of those principles – just to be sure the Premier heard the spirit of those principles – require the commitment of all Members of this House, the commitment of all Members of this House.

Is the government committed to conducting the business of this House in the spirit of the 10 guiding principles of consensus government? Mahsi.

I appreciate the Premier’s explanation of their thinking as far as they got.

Regular Members of this House, of course, were caught by surprise by the announcement of this Cabinet largesse, learning about it the way most citizens of the NWT did: through the media.

Were any members of responsible committees meaningfully consulted or consulted at all on this latest $20 million subsidy Cabinet has come up with?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize a couple of hardworking constituency assistants, both of whom are residents of Weledeh. Of course my CA, Bob Wilson, a long-time businessman and involved in many aspects of the community with the city and so on. Also, Amanda Mallon, another Weledeh resident involved in many aspects of our community in the NWT. A big welcome to David Wasylciw as well. Mahsi.