Louis Sebert

I think we would be prepared to look at any options, though nuclear wouldn't seem to be the top of the list. It is a controversial form of supplying power. Thank you.

The Member opposite is quite correct. The mining companies are some of our largest emitters. In the future, it would seem to me likely that the only way to radically reduce those levels of emission would be by supplying a hydro power. We would have to look and we would be prepared to look at hydro expansion, whether Taltson or otherwise.

As I mentioned, the Power Corporation has been in discussion with several mining companies, looking at other alternatives such as LNG. However, as I said, long-term, it seems to me that the most efficacious way of reducing the greenhouse emissions would likely be by hydro expansion, whether a large project like Taltson or a smaller expansion of other hydro projects.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, we are interested in these types of developments. We do realize that the cost of power is quite high in the Northwest Territories, particularly in comparison with some other jurisdictions, such as Quebec and Manitoba. We are in discussions with mining companies because we do hope that we will have additional customers, because the only way really of keeping prices down is to find new customers, either here in the Northwest Territories or by exporting power to the south. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can't speak for MACA, but I believe the way that assessments are usually done is that there's a division between land and buildings. For example, if you receive an assessment for taxation purposes from your municipality, there's a breakdown showing how much is assessed for the land and how much is for the building. I believe that's the way that MACA does it, but the Minister may know more about that than I do.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have mentioned previously, lessees are charged assessed value of land, and on the territorial lands it's 10 per cent of appraised value. Now, I don't know the method which MACA uses to arrive at these assessments, but I think there's a scientific way in which they do arrive at the assessments of the property. Of course, on that assessment is based the lease fees. Thank you.

Certainly, I would always be pleased to speak with the Member opposite. I do realize this is a complex issue, and we'll attempt to meet with him at his convenience. We will meet with him at convenience, and we will attempt to explain the process. I am also told in response to perhaps an earlier question that: for general taxation areas such as Fort Liard, a copy of the assessment roll is available at the community office as well as the regional MACA office. So it's somewhat similar to the other communities that are tax-based. It's rather similar to the other tax-based communities. Certainly, I...

The Member is quite correct that, on the value of the lands, the lease payments are based. I believe with respect to municipals, which would be under the purview of the Minister of MACA, that, when assessments are set out for tax purposes, people are obviously informed of the assessment. As I mentioned earlier, I believe, I am not certain, but I think there is likely a breakdown in the assessments, in most communities, between land and buildings. I am not 100 per cent sure of that, but I believe that is the case, from memory. However, at least in the tax-based communities, then, once you have...

Normally, Mr. Speaker, we wouldn't do that, but generally in each community, you can go to the tax rules and find out what the assessments are. In that way, you could determine what the values placed on land and buildings are. I believe every municipality has that information available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At least the tax-based municipalities. Thank you.

Of course, our fees are based on the value of the lands, so the assessed or appraised value of the lands is the number we're interested in, and on that number, we base the lease fees.