Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going back to my questions from my Member’s statement again. Back in the 15th Assembly there was a Member for Sahtu. He used to speak on many occasions of NTPC because his communities were hardest hit. He had some excellent ideas, by the way.
I’d like to ask the current Minister if he’s acting on any of these excellent ideas that the former Member for Sahtu brought up in the 15th Assembly.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. That’s a pretty vague question, but I’ll allow the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation to respond. Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Member for Twin Lakes, for reminding me in terms of some of my earlier discussions in the House. The Member is correct, and those ideas are still alive and well. Certainly, I’m very happy the Premier has asked if I would work with the other Members in terms of the energy file. Our committee is looking at the options of: how do we bring the cost of energy down to an acceptable rate for people in our smaller communities, who rely on a good power source in terms of reducing their cost of living?
Mr. Speaker, going back to NTPC and the bonuses paid to senior management, I’d like to ask the Minister if those are based on the overall surplus or the surplus minus what goes back to the Territorial Power Subsidy.
As the Member is well aware, this was at one time and possibly still is an issue to be discussed. The corporation has had consultants, has had some experts look at the bonus system. We now have an at-risk pay system for our senior management. We have made a huge reduction in terms of at-risk payments in terms of work to our senior management team. This was brought forward to the Public Utilities Board, which reviewed it and gave the stamp of approval for our operations within the NTPC management.
The Beaufort-Delta Regional Council passed a motion, as I mentioned before. I’d like to ask the Minister: do we have to pass a formal motion in the House requesting that the Auditor General audit NTPC, or can the Minister provide that direction or ask the Auditor General to do that?
The Member raises a very good point. Our last financial statement books were audited by the Auditor General of Canada. Certainly, if it’s the wish of the House, I would make a request to the board in terms of the Auditor General looking at our books again and looking at specific issues that could be raised, to have some further discussions in terms of our operation in the Crown corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not sure if he answered my question. I’d like to ask the Minister: would this House have to pass a formal motion to request the Auditor General audit the NTPC?
Mr. Speaker, I do apologize for not answering directly to the Member. If the House does wish to pass a motion to have the Auditor General look into our Crown corporation, if it pleases the House.... We have accountants, and we have the Public Utilities Board that scrutinizes very well in terms of our operations. If he does have a motion in the House, that is something we certainly will look at.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two written questions for two different Ministers. The first questions are for the Minister of Finance.
Can I have the complete cost breakdown of each individual regional director’s office for the budget years of 2007–2008 and 2008–2009?
Please provide all the costs associated to establish each individual regional office, such as lease, lease improvements, one-time capital expenses like vehicles and small equipment, and any other expenses to make each individual office open and relevant.
The second question is to the Minister of the NWT Power Corporation.
I would like to request a detailed breakdown by community from the NWT Power Corporation for the last three years specific to:
profits and losses,
distribution and power subsidy, and
the dividends raised.
Please provide any details of a prescribing document that states that the NWT Power Corporation needs to make a profit, and what is that profit based on?
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question 15-16(2), asked by the Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro, on May 30, 2008, to the Hon. J. Michael Miltenberger, Minister Responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, regarding the Somba K’e Healing Lodge.
The lodge was not operational from 2003 to May 2008. It was last utilized by Northern Addiction Services. The lodge is not designed for the purposes of housing to residents in the Northwest Territories.
The lodge can be refurbished to be operational based on a purpose that is aligned with the design of the lodge.
While the facility was vacant, the NWTHC North Slave District Office (NSDO) staff members monitored the facility on a daily basis, and the NWTHC bore the cost of keeping the facility in operational status. The NWTHC is not funded by the GNWT for these expenditures or for the monthly mortgage payments. Staff time is not included in costs.
Since 2004–05 the NWTHC has funded the following operating and maintenance costs for the facility:
2004–05
$ 87,000
2005–06
$ 68,000
2006–07
$ 49,728
2007–08
$ 77,205
TOTAL
$281,933
Since taking ownership of this facility in 2003, the Housing Corporation has incurred operating and maintenance costs related to this facility totalling approximately $1 million.
With regard to the future plans for this facility, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has reached an agreement for the utilization of the former Sombe K’e Healing Lodge near Dettah. Effective June 2008 the corporation began leasing this facility to the Deton’Cho Corporation, which is owned by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. They will operate the facility as a training centre in partnership with the Mine Training Society and Aurora College. The initial contract is for a three-year period. The NWTHC continues to be interested in either selling the facility or leasing it on a cost-recovery long-term basis.
Mr. Speaker, I have a response to Petition 6-16(2), tabled by Mr. Menicoche on May 27, 2008, to table.
Document 62-16(2), Response to Petition 6-16(2): Johnny Berens Ferry Service, tabled.
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, I will move that Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No.1 2008–2009, be read for the first time.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2007–2008, be read for the first time.
Bill 9 has had first reading.
Motion carried; Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2007–2008, read a first time.
I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act, be read for the first time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act, has had first reading.
Motion carried; Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act, read a first time.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 14 has had first reading.
Motion carried; Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, read a first time.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 15 has had first reading.
Motion carried; Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, read a first time.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 16, Write-off of Debts Act, 2008–2009, be read for the first time.
Bill 16 has had first reading.
Motion carried; Bill 16, Write-off of Debts Act, 2008–2009, read a first time.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 17, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2008–2009, be read for the first time.
Bill 17 has had first reading.
Motion carried; Bill 17, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2008–2009, read a first time.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2007–2008, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2007–2008 fiscal year.
Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2007–2008, has had second reading.
Motion carried; Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2007–2008, read a second time and referred to Committee of the Whole.
Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 8, Bill 11, Bill 12, Committee Reports 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, Tabled Document 37-16(2), Minister’s Statement 62-16(2), with Mr. Krutko in the chair.
I call the Committee of the Whole to order.
Some items to deal with today: Bill 8, Bill 11, Bill 12, Committee Reports 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, Tabled Document 37-16(2), Minister’s Statement 62-16(2), and Bill 9. What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee would like to deal with the Legislative Assembly’s Main Estimates, Bills 9 and 11, and Committee Reports 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, please.
