Debates of October 12, 2005 (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on the heels of my Member’s statement given earlier today. I asked the Finance Minister, Minister Roland, last year what this government is doing to monitor energy consumption, referring to both power, fuel and oil with respect to GNWT assets. He replied that the government, through budgeting exercises, looked at the consumption of our resources, whether it be heating oil, electrical, water and sewer targeted areas where the government thinks it could be saving. Does the Minister of FMB have any numbers indicating the savings that the government has achieved through this budget exercise, or is it further looking forward to targets in the near future that can be reported or tabled in this House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 97-15(4): Targets For Achieving Energy Savings

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we look at our budgeting exercise when departments come forward with requests for the amount of money they feel they will need to operate their programs and services, we look at issues of forced growth. We also look at the overall budget picture. We allow some of the requests to come forward and some we send back to say they have to look at it again to live within the fiscal environment we operate in. That’s one of the ways we do it. We specifically don't, as a budgeting exercise, require them to show us a savings, whether it’s Municipal and Community Affairs for their Water Treatment Program or the Housing Corporation for its utility costs. We haven’t asked them for that specific information. We do request that type of information when they come in for specific increases; for example, to offset the increased cost of fuel in communities. That’s when we asked them to provide some background information.

What we have been doing in light of the environment we find ourselves in now, especially since the summer with the rapid increase of fuel costs across the globe, is we’ve, through the Premier’s office, put together a Cabinet committee that looks at the energy situations of all departments and looks at overall government-wide initiatives to see what we can do to mitigate these increased costs that we are now feeling. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 97-15(4): Targets For Achieving Energy Savings

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. We’ve all heard the saying many hands make light work. We all know if these many hands turn off those light switches that I talked about or turned off those ignitions to stop making cars idle, we will save a lot of money. So those many hands will be contributing to those lower costs to run these facilities and cars. So my concern last year was what was their policy and action plan. We now find ourselves in peril where fuel prices are skyrocketing. So my question for the Minister is -- and all residents of the Northwest Territories want to know this one -- what directives are you now sending to the departments to adjust to this new energy crisis under this situation in the short term of this winter and the long term to come? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 97-15(4): Targets For Achieving Energy Savings

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated as well in a previous response to the Member on this issue, the departments have already undergone some work to look at their own initiatives. One of the things we have done within Cabinet under the direction of the Premier is we started looking at what all departments are doing. We are pooling the resources to see what initiatives are being undertaken.

Some of the things we are already involved with, Mr. Speaker, are the EnerGuide program, furnace and boiler maintenance programs; as well, one of the issues we have been working on is thermal scanning of government buildings. We are going to increase that initiative as well as, when we are in communities, looking at our own buildings, we will make that service available to the public so they can have a look at the efficiency of their buildings.

Another area is through the Power Corporation and the Energy Efficiency Assessment Program. That’s a program that’s been up and running and working to provide services to people across the North. As well, through the Housing Corporation and income support clients, we provide information on how they can serve or better utilize the facilities we have. Yes, we will be dusting off a number of our previous initiatives that we have taken as a government around usage of vehicles and facilities and will be looking at sending new directives out to have our employees operate our facilities and equipment in a more efficient manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Time for question period has expired. I will allow the Member to finish his supplementary question. Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 97-15(4): Targets For Achieving Energy Savings

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I formally have to compliment the Minister because there wasn’t any rhetoric in that. That was action I heard. Finally we are getting down to the nitty-gritty. I would like to add one more initiative we are doing.

Mr. Speaker, granted we can’t control the market rates of the fuel out there, but we can do something. Is this Minister going to lead with direction from his position as chair of the FMB and attach a performance appraisal to all deputy ministers under this initiative to show that their management in this situation is attached to their bonuses? Can we expect that type of leadership? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 97-15(4): Targets For Achieving Energy Savings

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can’t take claim to the performance appraisals of deputy ministers. That falls in the hands of the Premier. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 97-15(4): Targets For Achieving Energy Savings

All I can say is the Premier will expect that question tomorrow, so that’s his notice on this question.

Mr. Speaker, to ensure maximum conservation on the part of this government, given the new reality, I want to hear what this Minister has to say about mandatory reporting and monitoring of all government agencies, boards and departments. Do we do this? If not, why not? What do we do with this information that we get to ensure we conserve to our maximum ability? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 97-15(4): Targets For Achieving Energy Savings

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I understood the Member’s question properly, what are we going to do to get the maximum conservation out of our departments and staff? There’s a fair bit of work that’s already been undertaken, as I have said, work that’s been ongoing. Results are coming in, but we are pooling that work right now to make sure that we are aware of what all departments are up to in this area. As we gather this information, we will be better able to direct departments in areas that can see further savings to this government. As a government, we will and continue to work to make sure we are operating in an efficient environment and we will be tightening the strings, as we say, when it comes to the operation of our facilities and vehicles. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Time for question period has expired. Members on both sides of the House, I would like to remind you of the rules around question period. I was a little relaxed today in question period because it’s the first day back. My apologies to one Member who didn’t have time for his question. Only nine Members got to ask questions today in question period. I will be enforcing the rules after this, but I remind Members on both sides of the House to keep your questions and answers short and to the point. Thank you, Members.