Floyd Roland

Mr. Speaker, the process we’re involved with incorporates more than just the Power Corporation itself. It takes in the whole gamut of power generation, distribution, regulation, the Territorial Power Support Program. That’s why we’re in the process here of coming up with a document. We should be ready, hopefully, before Christmas. We’ll be able to sit down with Members and go through the work that’s been done and what it entails and seek further direction from Members as well in that area.

Mr. Speaker, the fuel resupply is something we work with the Department of Public Works and Services, Petroleum Products Division on. We combined the services I believe a couple of years ago so that we can enjoy a better sale price, if we can put it that way, on bulk purchasing of our product and our storage facilities in communities. The unfortunate thing is that when resupply happened, it was at about the highest price of oil throughout the season. That’s a difficulty we face. Already the Power Corporation is having to deal with the higher prices from future years. That’s why a rate...

I contacted Members earlier on the strategic initiatives. It was one of the ones highlighted, so it would fall under the strategic initiatives category. We would look at that same sort of development as we go forward. Again, as Members had requested that we look at the makeup of that, that would also fall into that category.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m aware that the Member has asked the Chair of the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee, but I can respond as well in this area. We sat down together and looked at those options of what work is being done. We’re in the early stages of setting out options around regulation and around power structures and so on.

I think it will be when we have that paper delivered to Members and start to discuss what Members would like to see happening, with options, for example, that Members have discussed here. We’re open to looking at a whole number of initiatives that can have a...

The metering situation that’s out there is done by the Power Corporation solely. The Housing Corporation doesn’t have that. If there’s any changing of meters, it would be through the Power Corporation itself. As I’ve stated, we will prepare information and bring it to Members for further discussion.

The fact is that the information provided goes through much scrutiny and is tested. It is not erroneous information. That’s the environment that we have to operate in, the existing framework. Members want to change that framework. As I’ve stated already, we are more than open to looking at changing the framework we operate in, and that’s across anything from the rates to the regulations to the structure. It is time that we as the Government of the Northwest Territories look to the future of what we can provide and how that provision of services affects the constituents in our communities.

Again...

Mr. Speaker, as I stated, the parties at the regional leaders’ table have opportunities to put things on the agenda — programming levels, service delivery. Those areas are up for discussion if both parties agree. We’re prepared to have that discussion as well as to discuss the level of service we receive out of the federal government on specific areas. We’re prepared to have those discussions with the leadership as well.

Mr. Speaker, I’m prepared to meet with any Member of the Legislative Assembly — one, two, four. In fact, on the small community side there was a commitment — I believe I gave it during the earlier session, during the Second Session — to sit down with Members once we got the confirmation from Priorities and Planning. Again, that commitment is there; I’m prepared to work with Members of the Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, there are dollars in the system, but there is also quite a shortage of dollars in a number of areas.

This assembly, the 16th Assembly, has already dealt with the Stanton fiscal issue as well as the Beaufort-Delta fiscal issue. They’ve transferred block funding on how they make arrangements — their scheduling services and times as well as dealing with agency relief nurses that are needed from time to time in our communities.

There is a challenge there. The Minister has stated on the record in this House that she is going to work from the department side with the Beaufort-Delta Health...

After having a discussion with staff to see what we’re able to do, I’d be prepared to give information to Members and, if we’re able to, to even table it.