Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, October 9, 2008, I will move the following motion.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on October 9, 2008, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

And further, that any time prior to October 15, 2008, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5 on the order paper.

Unanimous consent granted.

I appreciate that the Minister is working through the board, but that leads me to my next question. I appreciate that the Minister has advised the board how Members feel, how residents of the Territories feel, that we’re having a hard time with these increases in the cost of our electricity.

I’d like to know from the Minister, if he’s working through the board, what monitoring or what sorts of reporting mechanisms exist so that he feels secure in the knowledge that the board is exhausting all possibilities to save costs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corp. I spoke in my statement about the need for the Power Corp to exercise judgment and cost savings in everything that they do. I’d like to ask the Minister what cost saving measures are in place for this fiscal year to minimize the impact of corporation expenditures on electricity rates for poor little consumers like us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 19, Donation of Food Act, be read for the second time.

Bill 19 provides that a person who donates food or distributes donated food is not liable for disease, injury, death or other harm resulting from the consumption of that food unless the person intended to harm the recipient or acted recklessly in donating or distributing the food. Similar provisions apply to the directors, agents, employees and volunteers of corporations involved in the donation or distribution of food. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a dedicated Yellowknife volunteer, although I can’t see her. She’s up behind me somewhere. Ms. Ruby Trudel is here today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. I appreciate the long term vision and the steps that are being taken for the long term, but my concern is more on a day to day basis and the fact that the corporation is probably not operating as efficiently as I believe it should — well, I don’t believe it is.

My last question to the Minister is to ask him what steps he’s taking to revise or eliminate the bonus system for the NTPC management.

I thank the Minister for the response. I have to take exception to his statement to prove up the numbers. I think that if you go to the right person, they can make numbers say whatever you want them to say, whether it’s for or against. That’s no slight on accountants, by the way.

I’d like to further ask the Minister what reporting or monitoring mechanisms exist for the Minister’s use or for the department’s use to ensure that the corporation is exhausting all possibilities for cost savings.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is the duty of the Power Corporation to do all it can to minimize the impact of power generation costs on the average Joe or Jolene. I am, unfortunately, still waiting for that day.