Floyd Roland

I think there are a number of factors that are occurring as we have this discussion. In fact, I think Northland NWT is in the final phases of coming up with some of these arrangements that would see an agreement in place between a customer and their own company. That, I believe, has gone forward to the PUB for review. So these things are coming in place, and if there are areas with problems, I’ll gladly look at ways we can bring the appropriate parties together to try to make things happen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of net metering is one that has been looked at. In fact, a recommendation was made by the PUB through, I believe, the 2006–2008 General Rate Application. At that point there was direction given to look at what opportunities there were and come back with a proposal on that. It affects a number of areas. For example, when an individual or a company is generating power for themselves and they want to hook up to the system, there’s the interconnection guidelines that have to fall into place. They’ve been working on those.

The Power Corporation itself is open to...

We are looking at a number of ways to try to reduce the cost of living in the Northwest Territories. The Member is right; this is not a new area. It is fairly new for the Northwest Territories or at least for the Power Corporation. Yes, we know that we need to step up to the plate in this area to look at what we can do. There has to be recognition from all parties, though, that there’s a fixed infrastructure in place for the Northwest Territories and our communities. Although we’re trying to transition away, for example, from diesel generation, there’s still that fixed cost, the backup that we...

We are working on coming forward with all the information, and I will get the additional information on exactly where, for example, the metering system is. I know from the Power Corporation side they’re open to having discussions. There are a number of factors, for example, to buying back the power, standby rates and some of the safety issues there. I will commit to the Member to get back the detail on just where we’re sitting today with that.

Further to my Return to Written Question 26-16(2) I wish to table the following two documents entitled Territorial Power Support Program, Payments Received by the NTPC, and NWT Power Corporation, Income Statement by Community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Document 85-16(2), Territorial Power Support Program, Payments Received by NTPC, tabled.

Document 86-16(2), NWT Power Corporation, Income Statement by Community, tabled.

Let’s draw a direct comparison to the Government of the Northwest Territories and our public service. The fact is that every year it costs us more money. Whether or not there’s an increased workload, a new negotiated settlement drives up our costs. Those that are within the purview or the benefit of that are affected.

Some people are not within that, so we make these allowances so that they’re adjusted. But we have a competitive process we need to be in, and we try to adjust accordingly. The Power Corporation, as I stated earlier, has gone outside to review how it deals with the merit pay...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the NWT Power Corporation goes before the Public Utilities Board, it does put in for requests, whether it’s a general rate rider or a rate application and approval. There are times when within the PUB’s overview of what’s being asked, rate riders are put in place. When those rate riders come to their time allocation, they’re backed out of the equation.

For example, the ones that are being looked for now are looking at a timeline of potentially 18 months. They potentially have the impact of about $12 on the average consumer across the Northwest Territories. There’s...

Mr. Speaker, our first budget starts the plan of investing in communities and in the people of the Northwest Territories, whether it is making sure that they can take the jobs that workers now take or whether it is the fact that we’re going to help aboriginal corporations enter into the business economy that is out there. There are a whole number of things that we are doing as the Government of the Northwest Territories through those strategic initiatives that will have a positive impact as we progress.

Mr. Speaker, we can also look back at when industry shut down on us. I’ll use the Mackenzie...

I am taking a big breath, Mr. Speaker. The Member is asking where the truth is in the statement. I don’t know where he’s heading with that. He has his own beliefs as to where we should go as a government, and my stance is on positions I put forward.

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that our economy and the heating of our homes in the present day require resources. We have those resources in the Northwest Territories. In fact, we have resources that would help the climate change initiative if we were to switch to alternative natural gas instead of home heating oil, for example, and diesel fuel for...

Mr. Speaker, the process we are involved with right now is one we’ve looked at in the federal system, and that would be a substantial increase in salaries, and then reduce the merit pay. But we are not prepared to give a substantial increase in salaries to our senior staff, so we are looking within our existing framework to put something together. I would be prepared to sit down with Members at the appropriate time to go through details of a review. Thank you.