Bob McLeod

As we said, we are undertaking a review where we’re going to leave no stone unturned. We’re looking at every option, including if the Legislative Assembly wants to take on the responsibility for setting the power rates. If that’s what we want to do, we will look at that option. Somehow I don’t think we want to do that, but we will undertake a review, and we will come forward with the results.

Mr. Speaker, we’re looking at a wide range of possibilities with regard to rates. We want to hear from the people out there, the electricity users, whether that is something that would be supported. A levelized rate would mean that everybody pays the same rates throughout the Northwest Territories, whether you use hydroelectricity or thermal electricity or diesel electricity. At the time the decision was made to go with the postage rates, it was felt that rates should be accumulated by individual communities. With our review we will go to the communities, and we will find out what the users...

It’s still owned and is a subsidiary of those companies that the Member talked about.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe I could paraphrase that and say that the Public Utilities Board reviews the cost applications by the electrical providers to ensure that the costs are appropriate and relevant. They do that through a number of processes, including public hearings, interventions and making the public aware of these applications for increases.

Mr. Speaker, I too was at the meeting where we heard a number of mayors suggest that we sell some assets. These are the kinds of questions we are asking as we are undertaking our review. I think we have to be very careful. Some of these suggestions could have serious repercussions. If we’re going to privatize our electrical generating companies — and I also hear other Members saying we should have deregulation…. If you look at other provinces where they have had deregulation, where everything is in the private sector…. I am not saying it is a bad thing; our department has the lead for...

Mr. Speaker, as a government we have released a number of discussion papers. We have an energy priorities paper that we have released, which identified all of our priorities. We are now entering the second phase, whereby we will be coming forward with business plans in which we will identify the resources necessary to undertake the initiatives we have identified. If the Assembly approves, then we will have the resources to be able to continue with these very important projects.

The Public Utilities Board prides itself on the amount of money it saves the average consumer by disallowing some of the costs put forward by the Power Corporation. One of the things we have to take into consideration is if we don’t have the Public Utilities Board reviewing the rate applications, who will review those rates? Who will ensure that the costs are appropriate?

Having said all that, we are undertaking a review. We are looking at how the Public Utilities Board operates, and we’re looking at whether there are other regulatory mechanisms that would be more cost effective and feasible.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The motion that was moved by the Member and was approved by the Legislative Assembly I think will assist us in our review. As I’ve written to the Member, we are undertaking a review. We will be asking the general public, the people who pay the bills, to give us their feedback and direction as to how we should deal with this issue.

The PUB takes direction from this Legislative Assembly. Through the legislation we direct how they should operate. Once this review is undertaken and we obtain the results and we reach agreement as to how we should regulate it, we will then...

In keeping with our approach of developing the economy in every community, we’re looking at trying to do that in all of the 33 communities of the Northwest Territories. In the Nunakput riding there are four communities, so we think we’re well underway, as Tuk has oil and gas. In Sachs Harbour we’re working on developing the muskox harvesting program. For Ulukhaktok we have a subsidiary developed, a Holman Island subsidiary, to start up the art and print making, and Paulatuk has the Darnley Bay resources. So we’re working very hard in that area, and we’re working with the members of the...

I, too, would like to recognize Shad Turner, who sang O Canada for us. Shad has been an employee with the Department of Human Resources for approximately two years. He is the client service manager responsible for Public Works and Services; Education, Culture and Employment; and Human Resources.

Shad is also an active contributor to the Yellowknife music scene. He is the director of the Yellowknife Choral Society. As well, he sings regularly with Classics on Stage Yellowknife.