Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask questions to the lead Minister on the Energy Coordinating Committee in terms of the review that’s going to be taking place in the Northwest Territories on rates and electricity review. In terms of these types of consultations that are happening in the Northwest Territories, can the Minister inform the House here, in terms of this type of discussion, will it be open and transparent with all the information and no set predetermination as to the information that’s going to be given to the people in those communities in terms of how they see the review of the electricity and the rates in the North here?
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable lead Minister for the Energy Coordinating Committee, Mr. Bob McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, we’ve spent a considerable amount of time with the standing committees to ensure that we got the right questions out there and also we prepared a number of discussion papers. We’ve laid out a very ambitious communications strategy and it’s our intention to go into a number of communities and make sure all of these meetings are well advertised and that we get as many people out as possible. We do have a committee panel that’s been established and we will be counting on the panel to respond as to what they hear through their consultations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the communities are at somewhat of a disadvantage because, and I’m not too sure if there are any resources available to them for research information in terms of the rates in terms of the suggestions they may come forward with. The panel may have all the research available to them, but do the communities have some type of a fund available to them to do their own research in terms of looking at some solutions that may be brought up through these consultations?
We have very limited funds available for energy planning and we would be interested in hearing what concerns individuals have with regard to their energy costs. We will be expecting businesses that will be impacted to pay their own way when they participate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the Member a short supplementary question. Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then, would the lead Minister consider in terms of helping out with some of the communities in terms of their research because, again, they are going to be at a disadvantage in terms of putting together some real solutions if they’re just going to have a question and answer period in terms of the panel going through the communities. I ask if the Minister would look at his funds and see if there are some dollars available for the communities.
The Member can be assured that we are working very closely with the NWT Association of Communities and we are funding the NWT Association of Communities so that all of the communities participate in a workshop that will be happening at the end of this month, March 30 and 31. As well, we are working very closely with the chambers of commerce and we will be talking about this review when they have the annual general meetings. All of the communities will be participating. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Minister, in terms of the disadvantages, the way I look at it is that the energy panel really has a lot of money in terms of putting together facts and information. The communities would have very little money. Even the Minister has said that the business communities have to pay their way, so I see that they’re disadvantaged in terms of how this process will be. However, again, I would ask if the Minister would continue to look for other avenues where the communities can be properly funded to have a meaningful consultation. Thank you.
We are providing for the participation of non-tax-based communities in a workshop with the NWT Association of Communities and we will be paying for that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 8, written questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 7.
---Unanimous consent granted
