Michael Miltenberger

I will indicate that I’m going to read that report and we are going to look closely at where the shortfalls are. I have looked at the chart. There are some things we are doing, some things that need improvement and other jurisdictions that had very good grades. Of course, we will check to see how they format their financial information to see what the best way to move forward would be. We would look at doing that in consultation and collaboration with the Special Committee on Priorities and Planning as we look forward to a potential upgrade and improvement to the financial information...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The current infrastructure will continue to be used. The aircraft will be split initially between Smith and Yellowknife on a start-up basis, then they will be moved across the North on a required basis, wherever that may be. We have other supplementary bases in Hay River, Norman Wells, Simpson and Inuvik, among other places. So we will continue to use the infrastructure that we have to support the current aircraft which, over time, will be surplused. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few moments to speak to the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link Project, or MVFL.

On January 12, 2015, the government took the first step towards removing the limitations of our current communications infrastructure. The Fibre Link Project will allow Inuvik to become a global remote sensing site, enable our government to improve our programs and services, particularly in the areas of education and health, and allow many more of our residents and businesses to join the 21st century and communicate in real time with the rest of the world.

Mr. Speaker, the first winter...

In this particular cycle, the session that we’re currently in is about a week or so earlier than normal and it squeezed us for time because of year-end and such. We agree with the Member that we would like to make sure that on a go-forward basis we hit the timelines that Members are given and have enough opportunity to thoroughly review the information so we can have a fulsome discussion. We’ll make sure that we work with the Legislature and committees on our planning on a go-forward basis when we look at dates. Normally when we look at dates of session, these types of documents don’t sort of...

There are two things. We’ve booked the number, a fixed amount as a liability that we have responsibility for, and we’ve built into our yearly budgets to the base at this point roughly $2 million a year to start working away at the remediation of the various sites as the work plan dictates. Thank you.

The final decision on what projects to invest in to secure our economic future belongs to the 18th Legislative Assembly.

Our fiscal challenges are not unique and we will not be shrinking from them. Recognizing our reality prepares us for the tough choices we will have to make now and in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following letter from the mayor of Hay River, dated May 27, 2015, regarding support for the NWT Power Corporation bid. Thank you.

The government has been very consistent in its approach to energy and to the Power Corporation to how we deliver things, how we deliver power, our emphasis on the cost of living, and it’s very, very simple. The issue that the Member refers to, we have the proof before us. You have one community at 31 cents per kilowatt, you have two neighbouring communities at 21 cents per kilowatt.

Can we effect a positive change? Yes, we can. I believe that we will significantly close that gap if that opportunity is presented to the Power Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has shown himself to be a very vocal and aggressive defender and supporter of powerful money, multinational interests headquartering outside of the Northwest Territories and clearly today he’s going to vent his spleen on the Power Corporation, which is, I think, a very good corporation that we’d all be lost without.

On the issue of dividends, let’s make the distinction between the Power Corporation and a private company. The people of the Northwest Territories own the Power Corporation. There’s one shareholder. Rather than take a dividend, we reinvest all the...

Mr. Speaker, on April 22, 2015, the federal government announced a $500 million increase to the GNWT borrowing limit, bringing the federally imposed borrowing limit to $1.3 billion; as well, the definition of self-financing debt is being revised. Post devolution this increase in our borrowing limit gives the Government of the Northwest Territories increased flexibility to invest, in consultation with Members of the Legislative Assembly, in much needed infrastructure that will support the responsible development of the NWT and its economy and bring down the cost of living for communities and...