Michael Miltenberger

No, the existing commercial Power Support Program is not very well subscribed to, given its structure and complexity. It’s considered too onerous. We haven’t added that money to be used, nor have we changed that program. So the money is reflected here just because it was initially targeted for some support to the commercial subsidy.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We anticipate that with the institution of the levy, that there’s going to be a significant drop-off in the use of plastic bags, but any funds that are collected will go into the Environment Fund with ENR and will be put towards other good work that needs to be done.

I appreciate the Member’s comment as it pertains to sunsets or potential sunsets and any action or response from the federal government in terms of continuing on some of the health programs. We’re going to be, of course, monitoring that. We’re not going to know that until the federal budget comes out in early March. We’re already doing some initial planning, as the Members are aware, to try to accommodate the worst-case scenario, which would be that the sunset holds and there is no further funding. However, we will keep the Members apprised as often as we have to going forward with the various...

The intention is to have a consultation and feedback period until April 30th. The intention, as I indicated in the budget address, assuming that there will be constructive feedback and consensus of this Legislature, that we’d have a bill before this House for their consideration and passage in the life of this Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Margaret Melhorn, deputy minister of Finance; and Mr. Jamie Koe, acting director of policy and planning. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the Department of Finance’s main estimates for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

The department’s 2010-11 Main Estimates propose O and M expenditures of $76.528 million. This represents an increase of $1.658 million or 2 percent from the 2009-10 Main Estimates.

In October 2009 the Department of Finance released its Strategic Action Plan 2009-2012, which provides multiyear direction for the department. The plan includes strategic initiatives flowing from two overarching strategic priorities, these being fiscal sustainability and modern...

When we contemplated the commercial subsidy, the structure of the commercial subsidy hadn’t been determined either. We had discussions about what would that money best be put towards. Would it be best put towards incentives to encourage stores to be more energy efficient as opposed to just a subsidy? I agree with the Member that subsidies on their own, as we’ve seen with the Territorial Power Support Subsidy, for example, it grows and I think the Member and I are interested in doing the same thing. The final determination of what these funds will be targeted for will be determined, I would...

When this fund was initially contemplated and initiated and presented, it was presented to do a number of things. It was presented to minimize our reliance on fossil fuels, it was intended to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, it was intended to help especially the smaller, high-cost communities to decrease their cost of living through reducing the power. This $3 million a year for three years was initially contemplated as an interim measure as we sorted out the way forward in terms of whatever system changes could be made, the time it would take to set up the structure to implement things...

This money is part of the $60 million that was put towards looking at alternative energy; some of the structural reforms. I would suggest that we’ve committed to coming forward with a plan in May. I think government’s response that the money should be reflected in the budget as it was initially intended and then when we look at May and see what comes out of that discussion collectively of where we go and how those funds could best be put to use.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This increase is tied to the $3 million that was slated to be added, the $3 million a year for three years, to the commercial subsidy program. How it would be finally put to use will depend on the outcome of the electrical rate review, or the government’s response and what’s finally agreed to as the Legislature going forward to a restructured rate system. So the money is here reflecting that increase that came out of the $60 million.