Floyd Roland

I can’t speak for the last general rate application, if we had people there and what role they were playing in taking in the information. The Power Corporation is our corporation. We are the sole shareholder. We’ve been aware of the information. The Member is right; through the PUB, it is a rigorous process that it goes through. We have also heard from Members of this House and people across the Territory when they have to deal with the bump of rates. Whether it is a rate rider or a fuel stabilization rate rider or low water rate rider or just a general rate application increase, we have heard...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The ATCO proposal we have not made a final decision on that. That is why we are undertaking the review. Thank you.

Even the Member said he’s not sure, so I think this work will help us to be sure of the next steps we need to take. In fact, if the Member went through Hansard he would know in some responses I’ve made already around the Power Corporation if there’s been other proposals. When I met with the regional aboriginal leaders I said, here’s an opportunity. If you want to put in a proposal we’re open to looking at that. The opportunity is there and we’re trying to create that environment so that we do have the best opportunity before us of supplying clean energy, cheap energy, and it makes living...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have, quite a number of times when we present ideas and information, met with Members sometimes in committees to try to give information on where we can go. I’m not sure where the Member is at different times, but he’s aware that we have talked about some of these things. We have laid out some of our processes and I have committed to come back to Members at the next stage. We have frameworks in place and we’re working on those final terms of reference. I committed to get back to committee with those pieces. The Member is aware of them. This talking about Bondo and so...

The work that needs to be done in a number of areas, we have heard from the constituents and from this Assembly who said things have to be done. The status quo wasn’t good enough anymore, so the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee looked at the broad structure of rates and how they’re applied. So for example, yes, past Assemblies have talked about one-rate zones. Should we talk about a conservation zone or rate that would be applied equally across the Territory? How would that be taken by the people of the North? Should we in fact, as this government is looking at through this budget...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I met with committee and informed them of the process that we’re undergoing with the ATCO proposal the fact that we have these reviews that are out there, one through the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee that was launched, as the Member pointed out, in December through Minister Bob McLeod. The one that reacts to the emotion of this Assembly and that is the NTPC review and the review of the ATCO proposal, they will all take...They’ll be in step in the sense we’re going to do the initial review on the rates regulation subsidy and structure. It is due to report...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the Member is referring to the review that is undertaken by the lead Minister of the Energy Coordinating Committee, so I will refer that question to Minister Bob McLeod.

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.