Louis Sebert

The Power Corporation supports the government's work on the 2030 Energy Strategy, and is looking forward to becoming a key partner in implementing a threeyear action plan that is currently under development. We understand that emerging renewable energy projects require additional financial support, and the GNWT is committed to covering the incremental costs of these investments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can advise that monitoring will continue over the entire life of the project. Our experience with this type of project is that what we learn from the project can be used and applied to future projects under the energy strategy. Solar panels have a life of 25 years or more, but batteries have a lesser life of about 10 years. Battery technology, however, is improving, so that may enhance the project.

I'm not certain at which sitting. We do have quite an ambitious legislative menu that is coming up; legislation in such areas as cannabis is very important and is very timely. We will, however, and are intending to bring forward legislation this year. I can't give you an exact date. Thank you.

We are, of course, committed to the office of an ombudsman, but we have not yet ascertained all of the costs.

I will speak with corrections, and if there is a written policy regarding gang awareness, I will ask them whether they will be prepared to share that with the Member opposite. Thank you.

As I mentioned previously, those alleged gang members really fall into two categories. Those who are on remand, we don't have the ability to send them back to the jurisdictions from which they came.

Also, too, that would be difficult financially. For example, they might have many court appearances, and if they were sent back, say, to Ontario, then we would have to bring them back at our cost each time they appeared in court. However, once they are sentenced, and often they do receive lengthy sentences, many of these gang members are charged with narcotics offences, and sentences have been...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise that Corrections is aware of this problem which the Member opposite has alluded to. I can advise that gang awareness is covered for new recruits in the Corrections training program, so staff are aware of the problem involving gangs; they are able to identify and deal, hopefully, with those issues. Thank you.

The goal of the project was to validate the integration of solar with significant storage capacity and test the limits of integrating intermittent renewable energy sources. NTPC has contracted with a third party to complete a performance review of the hybrid plant at Colville Lake, to be completed at the end of March 2018. Once the study is complete, the design basis for a standard energy storage system will be completed for consideration and other NTPC thermal power plants.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories provided $1,150,000 for the hybrid solar, photovoltaic, diesel, and battery energy power plant project in Colville Lake. The federal government also contributed money in the amount of $150,000, so total government contributions amounted to $1.3 million. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes. I understand that this is a matter that would go to the Board of Management, so obviously they're going to have to determine what those costs are.