Debates of May 31, 2006 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, living in the Northwest Territories, we have always had to live with the high cost of living. That is just one of the prices we pay for being up here. Recently, Mr. Speaker, the Public Utilities Board approved a rider increase that has leadership and residents of the Beaufort-Delta very upset. That is putting it mildly. They didn’t even contact the Town of Inuvik to see how the rate would affect their community. Does the board not do their research to see if there are other ways to save money and not always have to let the consumer pay? Were they not set up to protect the consumers much as rubberstamp everything that is put in front of them?

Mr. Speaker, two of the five board members no longer live in the NWT, so how can we expect them to look after the best interests of the NWT from down south? I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that if board members leave the NWT, then they give up their positions that can be filled by people still living here. I am not questioning anybody’s qualifications or abilities, Mr. Speaker. The point that I am trying to make is that board positions that were created to regulate the utility cost of the NWT should be filled by residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

---Applause