Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, have questions regarding the Power Corporation. I’ll point out that the Premier quite lively created an analogy of a car. I’ll tell you, the problem with this car is it’s full of Bondo and it’s because the driver has driven it into the ground. It’s the driver that’s the problem. The fact is, there is no direction on this.
I’d like to hear from the Premier where the terms of reference are on these reviews and how they plug into each other. Because they seem to just go haphazardly into it and will converge eventually, and don’t worry, we’ll figure it out. Well, will the Premier explain how they work together and will he also offer to table those terms of reference in this House?
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have, quite a number of times when we present ideas and information, met with Members sometimes in committees to try to give information on where we can go. I’m not sure where the Member is at different times, but he’s aware that we have talked about some of these things. We have laid out some of our processes and I have committed to come back to Members at the next stage. We have frameworks in place and we’re working on those final terms of reference. I committed to get back to committee with those pieces. The Member is aware of them. This talking about Bondo and so on and so forth, well, you can play on words, but the simple fact is here is an opportunity for the big picture. Whether it’s this government or the next government, people are calling for cheaper energy to be supplied. So we have to put the pieces in place. We have to plant the seed. We have to do the work so the right decisions can be made. This work is laying that foundation of what can come next and the possibilities of what can come next.
I finally understand it. We have Stevie Wonder over there driving the car. That’s why it’s so banged up. No one knows where they’re going. So I only mean it as someone blind is driving this car in the context of the analogy. The fact is, nobody knows where these plug in and are hoping like heck they are not going to be the solution. Would the Premier put a halt to this, come up with a terms of mandate and show where this plan is going, where this car is going, for better power, better solutions in northern hands?
If I could sing I might try to do something here. The simple fact is I don’t know what car the Member has jumped in. He’s obviously heading down the wrong road.
We have an opportunity through this work to set the course for ourselves and the future generations of the Northwest Territories. We talk about cleaner energy, cheaper energy, and the abundance in the Northwest Territories. We have a huge abundance in the Northwest Territories that can offer cheaper, cleaner energy. How do we get there? The work that is laid out here will help us get there. I believe that and I want to make sure that we investigate all opportunities, because the existing situation that we have today, if we continue to work around that existing framework, I can guarantee you an outcome and it won’t be much different from where we are today.
See, the Premier just doesn’t get it. The fact is, we have all been here for years and have been saying the power rates are too high. I’m not sure where he’s been. Maybe he’s going down the wrong road. The fact is, we’ve been saying the organization is the problem. Everything’s the problem. I’m not sure what information you’re going to get that we haven’t been saying here for years. We have honourable Members who have been struggling for years, including yourself when you were on this side of the House, to raise these issues. So if you’re going to create a discussion just to talk, I don’t see any use of it.
If your intent is to parcel off the NWT Power Corporation what work has been considered in the context of making it northern owned by approaching maybe the, an example like the APG? Approaching our northern development groups to say, look, if we want it northern owned, northern controlled, let’s work with Northerners to do this, rather than giving it to some multinational who’s out for the long run for themselves.
Even the Member said he’s not sure, so I think this work will help us to be sure of the next steps we need to take. In fact, if the Member went through Hansard he would know in some responses I’ve made already around the Power Corporation if there’s been other proposals. When I met with the regional aboriginal leaders I said, here’s an opportunity. If you want to put in a proposal we’re open to looking at that. The opportunity is there and we’re trying to create that environment so that we do have the best opportunity before us of supplying clean energy, cheap energy, and it makes living affordable in the Northwest Territories. Where we’re going, the work we’re doing, is all in place. If we’re going to stop because of some issues of misunderstanding or jumping in the wrong vehicle or facing the wrong direction on the horse, we’ll help set him straight.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the work is done and the work is in place and the work is in gear, whatever analogy the Premier wants to use, then would the Premier table the terms of reference and the mandate of all these three entities and show how they converge for long-term better power to all Northerners?
As I committed to Members when I met with them last, as we develop those and get closer to them I’ll sit down with Members and go through that with them and show them where that work is.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
