Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to use today’s occasion to talk about an important issue. I want to give thanks to all those people out there that ensure the Northwest Territories and, more particularly, the city of Yellowknife is at number one.
We’re number one and normally that’s something to be truly proud of, but not in this particular case. Why, many ask? Well, this city of Yellowknife’s power rates continue to outshine all other cities across Canada. Believe it or not, our power bill rates are higher than Iqaluit’s or even Whitehorse. So we’re number one. Is that something to be proud of? I say it’s something to be ashamed of.
The cost of living weighs on the shoulders of the everyday working family continues to get heavier and heavier while the McLeod government watches this happen every day. When will this McLeod government stand up and fight for the everyday family who is trying to get by?
When 5 to 10 percent of your salary is going to your power bill, a signal must eventually be sent to this government to act. It’s almost impossible to have a one-income family. I barely know any that try to get by without two incomes.
The cost of living continues to be unbearable, but our Finance Minister will tell you it’s the intent of this government to attract 2,000 new people to the Northwest Territories. Quite frankly, who is going to want to come here when the Economic Development Strategy points out and they recognize that power rates hold Yellowknife back? If anything, they say in their report that it’s a negative, not a positive. Again, we’re number one. Boy, that’s scaring people.
But it gets worse. That hungry beast we know as the NWT Power Corp cannot be satisfied. Its insatiable appetite continues to grow by trying to increase our power rates. Oh, but don’t worry, it’s only $10 a month. Don’t worry; it will be okay. That might only add up to 3 percent of your normal bill, but you’ll be fine.
When is the courage going to be built up, thrust through this government to say enough is enough? Take back these high-cost power rates; show Northerners they care. It’s time to rise and show who they’re standing with. Do we continue to protect the Power Corp’s insatiable appetite to increase our power bills, or will they start standing up for the everyday working family who has trouble paying their power bills? It’s time they do so. Where will they be on the cost of living fight? Right now, they’re all silent.
