Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for raising this concern. The work we’ve done on this comes in a number of layers. First and foremost we had a pan-territorial approach from the three northern Premiers as to making the pitch to Ottawa that the Northern Development Agency needs to be established in the North. Following that and putting that case in, I have worked directly with a number of the federal Ministers to highlight the fact that it makes sense, for a number of the reasons that the Member has raised, that we’re central amongst the territories, that our economic potential is the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 6-16(3), I wish to table the following document entitled Federal Revenues from Non-Renewable Resources in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the alternative energy process we’ve engaged in is one through the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee and Members to look at these alternatives. In fact, we’ve done it so that it doesn’t affect the rates, at this time, of how we implement some of the new technologies into our systems. We have to engage with the Power Corp at that level to see how we would do a full implementation. Again, looking at not impacting the rates of individuals. So that work is to be done.

The review itself that’s happening, looking at the Power Corp, the internal process was one of how it operates...

Mr. Speaker, myself and the Minister, we get our mandate from this Assembly, our vision and goals. I must say, when these opportunities exist and there’s an invite, I will take that invite. As I have, for example, I was invited to the Akaitcho leaders to talk at a workshop. The first time a Premier of the Northwest Territories was invited. I took that opportunity because that directly aligns with some of the work we’re doing around regional leaders and so on. But with this group, yes, I had opportunity to address it shortly for a small amount of time when we had our Caucus meeting when we met...

Mr. Speaker, again, there is no organization. My involvement was through the Executive. As I told them there, there are no methods that I could bring from a Cabinet or the Assembly because we had not had that discussion. The area of involvement from other companies, I’m not sure if the other people who participated paid their own way to the meeting as well. I didn’t ask about that. I just ensured that from our part that it was as if there’s any discussion happening across the Northwest Territories around matters of what we could be or what our possibilities are, I’d like to be involved and I...

As I had said earlier, yes, I am prepared to sit down with Members. If it’s a polling, one on one, to sit down and find out where we can move on this area. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to engage Members to see where they’d like to see something done. Being that the day has passed, in the past we’ve recognized the day when we were in session. Again, the fact that previous Assemblies stood by this and, as the Member has pointed out, we’re the only Assembly who has done that, we stand by that. With the short days we do have, as the Member has highlighted, there are quite a number of messages that we have to get out, but I’d be prepared to engage Members to see if we make any adjustments to what we’re prepared to make statements on. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the high cost of energy, one, is predominantly felt in the diesel communities is correct; but as we’ve seen lately, communities served by hydro felt the bite as well. We’ve heard a number of stories about the concerns of the increase in those communities. We have to look at all our options and that’s what the work that’s undergoing now through the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee, the review of the Power Corporation and the review of the ATCO proposal is to see what options are realistically on the table and what that might mean for the future of the North. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some of the comments the Member has made in this area leads to what may be in the future. Right now it is an essential service. That is treated as such. We end up dealing as the biggest user and the supplier of power in the North. We end up dealing on an annual basis with either rate riders or the increased cost of that. We have to look at those areas. I believe that, as the proposals have been sent in to us, it is of interest. That is why we have this initial phase of reviewing that and would decide at a future date if we should go in on that date I have given to...

As I committed to Members when I met with them last, as we develop those and get closer to them I’ll sit down with Members and go through that with them and show them where that work is.