Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat at the appropriate time.

Will the Minister commit to examining the issue to determine whether the 700 kilowatt total is still relevant and whether the government should consider a tiered approach on the amount of kilowatts that are subsidized depending on where we live in the NWT?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I spoke about the high power costs in my riding of Nunakput and the fact that longer winters mean the people I represent consume more power. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the territorial power subsidy, the Hon. Michael Miltenberger.

Can the Minister explain to this Assembly how the figure of 700 kilowatts, subsidized to the Yellowknife rate, came into being? My understanding is that this is the cost to run a fridge and a furnace and few lights.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The people of the Nunakput riding face some of the highest power rates in the Northwest Territories. Living farther north than many other residents in the Northwest Territories also means that our lights have to be on longer in the winter and heating on in our homes for a longer time in the season. The furnaces are on for longer periods of time.

To put this simply, 700 kilowatt hours that are subsidized for Yellowknife rates by the Territorial Power Support Program are not enough. I know of families that are struggling to pay power bills for a modest three bedroom home...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of ITI. Considering the bleak forecast of the economy here at home and all over the world, considering that even during the good times many of the communities did not benefit economically, what’s government going to do in the short term — within the next three months is Christmas season — to keep the economy healthy?

Mr. Speaker, many people ask me: what’s the best way to rejuvenate our economy in Nunakput? The answers are plenty, but few of them are being considered by this government. It definitely excludes raising northern taxes for Northerners.

Mr. Speaker, the economic forecast for Canada and our international partners is looking bleak. Even though the International Monetary Fund says Canada could be one of the only countries to avoid recession, this government must do what it can do to maintain the growth.

Realistically, the Northwest Territories has been experiencing very good times. Year after year...

None at this time. I heard all that good news.

It’s Nun-ak-put, for the Minister, with a “T.”

Will the government find innovative and cooperative solutions to allow small businesses in our small communities to truly benefit from government contracts and spending?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today we need to welcome Joseph Palukset and his wife, Elsie Cretenbert, to the House all the way from Ulukhaktok. Welcome to the House.

Also, I would like to recognize Mr. Greg Huff from the Aboriginal Sport Circle and tell him to keep up the good work in what he’s been doing.

Will the government work with the regional centres, such as Nunakput businesses, and federal and local governments, to review and implement measures to the truly strategic coordination of streamlining with our great territory’s economic development?