Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about some of the reviews that are taking place, which I’m sure people in the public have heard about and are probably becoming thoroughly confused about. I’m having trouble keeping track of them all myself and in the order in which they’re being undertaken.
We know there is an announced review of the ATCO proposal, the unsolicited proposal that came to the Premier’s desk, and it’s being undertaken by the GNWT with a team of senior managers and with the assistance of a former employee of the Auditor General’s office. No terms of reference have been circulated about this review, no date has been given, and we’re not sure if anyone, apart from the Financial Management Board, will ever actually see this report. We haven’t had any of those things confirmed.
Also, now we know that there’s going to be a review of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and this will look at the value for money and a performance audit of NTPC. Those terms have not been identified, no dates and no schedule. We do know that this will be an expensive undertaking and neither do we hear exactly where the money will be coming from for that review. Hay River obviously has a very understandable interest in the terms of reference of a review of NTPC and would like opportunity for input.
Also, Mr. Speaker, at the same time we are doing an electricity review. This discussion paper was released in December. Members have seen that. It was widely circulated. A panel was established to visit communities, attend community meetings and hear community feedback. That is to talk to people about the power rates. That panel includes some former bureaucrats and also a gentleman from Manitoba. This is the group, Mr. Speaker, who might recommend a change in our rate zones, if that is the determination, and we are expecting a report back from that in June.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier indicated in his ministerial statement that all of these activities are clearly linked. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions today for the Premier about a review of a corporation which we might be selling to a corporation who has said they will freeze the rates for five years. If you look at all of what is going on, it is like having a car perhaps and saying there is something wrong with it, but before we determine what is wrong with it, we are going to try and sell it to somebody and we are also going to look forward to the future and look at establishing the rates that this new corporation would be charging. It’s all very confusing and I will have questions for the Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
