Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Earlier today, the federal government announced $70 million in new funding over three years to address the health and suicide crisis involving Indigenous people living on reserve and in the Territories. It does appear that most of these, the largest parts of this funding, are going to be addressed towards Nunavut. I’m wondering if the Minister has been in touch with Ottawa about this and if we know some of this money is going to be Northwest Territories to help with our mental health problem. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that there is no difference today regarding other funding, but if we wanted to make a policy change to Metis benefits now, could we do that theoretically on our own, or is it rigidly mirrored, or could we make those minor corrections? Say if a Metis client in the Northwest Territories had some trouble. Could the Minister, our Minister of Health make a policy change to that program, or does that not happen currently, if there was a gap in coverage? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to continue its review of the Department of Health and Social Services.

Nothing further, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the government has brought its budget for the coming year. I am pleased to see it is not in fact an austerity budget, rather is one of status quo. It balances reductions with new spending in an effort to meet the shared priorities of both sides of this House. While I’m pleased with this outcome, I cannot say the same for the efforts undertaken by the leadership of the Premier and Cabinet to communicate these spending measures. In fact, I do not believe that any reasonable Northerner would have believed in the months leading up to the introduction of the...

Mr. Speaker, the Minister clearly has a keen grasp on the issues facing affordable power in the Northwest Territories, but I don’t hear much of a plan to deal with them. Can the Minister share with this House some of the ideas he has on dealing with this problem moving ahead and perhaps on how we’re going to build on the NTPC’s success with renewables specifically, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation said, first and most importantly, this change to the board of directors of the Power Corporation will save ratepayers $1 million per year. My question for the Minister today is: that million dollars, how are ratepayers going to see that coming off their bills? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the new federal government has offered billions in green infrastructure and plenty of money available for developing renewable power and renewable energy economies. Has the Northwest Territories Power Corporation applied for any of these resources, and are they looking at deploying to the Northwest Territories so we can get away from increases over every year, as The Minister said we can anticipate? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Previously the Minister had said that the Northwest Territories Power Corporation has been the recipient of substantial GNWT subsidies in recent years. Why is it then that the Power Corporation continues to increase power rates each year, more than 40 per cent since 2012? Is this subsidy a prudent expenditure of government resources in keeping the cost of power under control? It doesn’t seem to be working, Mr. Speaker.