Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Thank you, witnesses.
Okay, the next bill we agreed to deal with is Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act. At this time I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the act if you have any opening comments. Mr. Bob McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to introduce Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act.
Members will recall last year’s release of Creating a Brighter Future, a comprehensive response to almost two years of extensive consultations held with communities, key stakeholders, the general public, and Regular Members. Creating a Brighter Future detailed this government’s public commitment to a number of specific actions with respect to the Northwest Territories’ electricity system, including commitments to introduce amendments to the Public Utilities Act.
These legislative amendments have been drafted to advance the vision of an efficient, equitable, and transparent electricity system, and include provisions which will:
clarify the Executive Council’s ability to issue broad policy direction to the Public Utilities Board while at the same time not restricting or limiting the Public Utilities Board authority to decide on individual cases;
allow for the establishment regulations regarding the general rate application process and submissions by utilities. This change would allow for standardized filing requirements that would specify the level of detail and background information to be provided in a general rate application;
enable the Minister to seek the Public Utilities Board’s advice on matters that are solely within the Minister’s discretion without offending the principles of procedural fairness or improperly delegating his or her authority; and
provide for amendments of a general housekeeping nature to modernize the act, and to remove or modify any overly perspective language.
Mr. Chairman, I trust the committee will find the amendments satisfy public commitments to amend the Public Utilities Act. These amendments will advance the vision of safe, reliable, and affordable electricity available through our territory, and reflect the essential nature of electricity services for Northwest Territories Communities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time, I would like to ask the committee which reviewed the bill to make comments. Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure met during the months of May and June to review Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act. The committee held public hearings in Yellowknife, Deline, Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope, Fort Liard, Jean Marie River, and Fort Simpson. Power rates are a serious concern for people across the Northwest Territories. Those who spoke to the bill at public hearings were supportive of the amendments and the ongoing discussion of energy provision in the Northwest Territories.
Following the clause-by-clause review on August 16, 2011, a motion was carried to report Bill 18 to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole. This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 18. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. At this time, I’d like to ask the Minister if he’ll be bringing in any witnesses. Mr. McLeod.
Does committee agree the Minister brings in his witnesses?
Agreed.
Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses in.
Mr. Minister, for the record, could you introduce your witnesses.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left I have Alan Cash, deputy secretary to Cabinet; on my left, I have Mark Aitken, the director of legislation with the Department of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. General comments in regard to Bill 18.
Detail.
Detail. Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act.
---Clauses 1 through 28 inclusive approved
To the bill as a whole.
Agreed.
Does committee agree that Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act, is ready for third reading?
Agreed.
---Bill 18 as a whole approved for third reading
With that, I’d like to thank the Minister and thank the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses out. What is the wish of committee?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.
---Carried
May I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please, Mr. Krutko.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Deh Cho Bridge Act; Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act; Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act; Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act, and would like to report that Bills 15, 16, 17 and 18 are ready for third reading. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The motion is on the floor. Do we have a seconder? The Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
---Carried
Orders of the day for Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Bill 9, Wildlife Act
Bill 10, Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act
Bill 22, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act
Bill 23, Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act
Committee Report 6-16(6), Report on the Review of Bill 10, Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Deh Cho Bridge Act
Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act
Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act
Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 5:08 p.m.
