Debates of October 24, 2006 (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am going to take a run at a question again today. Today, I would like to ask the Premier something that I was trying to get an answer from Mr. Krutko about yesterday. Mr. Speaker, we have spent an inordinate amount of money as this government talking about energy efficiency, lowering our greenhouse gas emissions, making energy an issue with respect to the cost of living of northerners, and we have come up with a lot of very abstract concepts. Again, last night as I watched CBC, I see the budding actors of the Arctic Energy Alliance again with their public service announcement on CBC which must cost a lot of money talking about not leaving their vehicles idling and all that sort of thing. It is not enough. I would like to see us do something more tangible. I would like to ask the Premier today if there is any way that an amount of money could be identified that would allow northerners living in their own homes to access money to make home improvements that would lower their cost of utilities in their communities on a repayment basis. Like I said, we have had a lot of money for consultation, posters, advertisements and all kinds of promotional material and gimmicks. How about some real cash that northerners could access on a repayable basis to do some home improvements to save costs on the bottom line for their cost of operating their homes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 176-15(5): Incentive Programs To Address Housing Utility Costs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree that we can’t just advertise and urge people to cut down on their energy consumption. That is important. I think the work of the Arctic Energy Alliance is good in that one. We do have to look at some more specific ways of helping people in the North to reduce their cost of living and to make their homes more energy efficient. Mr. Speaker, as we go through our budget planning process in preparing for each budget, there is opportunity for Members to have input, and certainly if the Members in this House are ready to support us, then we would look seriously at a program similar to such as Mrs. Groenewegen is raising. Or there might be other good ideas out there how we might get a good bang for the buck by providing some very specific things to residents in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 176-15(5): Incentive Programs To Address Housing Utility Costs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier for that answer. We need to do something now. I don’t know why this has never been done before. I don’t know what other ideas might be out there, but this is one idea that’s not out there. That’s an idea that’s right here and now and it seems like it should be simple. Keep the list of things that people could access money for short; a pellet stove, a wood stove, windows, insulation, siding. Even put a cap on it. Say a maximum of $10,000 repayable interest free. They save the money on their bill; they use their savings to repay the loan. It seems simple to me and, like I said, when you compare it to the amount of money that we put into some of these things which have netted really unquantifiable results, I think it’s a good idea. What department would the Minister or the Premier see such a program coming under? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 176-15(5): Incentive Programs To Address Housing Utility Costs

Mr. Speaker, if we were to do the program that Mrs. Groenewegen’s referring to it would either be done through the Housing Corporation or it could be done through ENR, that would be another possibility, or a combination of departments. We did have programs similar to that in the past where we assisted people to buy things like solar panels and turbines and so on. This is something more specific and, Mr. Speaker, with the support of Members, then of course our government is ready to look at this kind of good program. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 176-15(5): Incentive Programs To Address Housing Utility Costs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I respect the Premier’s reference to the budget planning process and that kind of thing, but I think we need to do something now. I think that we should demonstrate that we can actually come up with an idea and find money for it. I’m sure we found money for all kinds of other things when they presented as an emergency and I think this is urgent. I think this is an urgent need in the North. I don’t want to see this months and years in the planning. Let’s keep it simple and let’s try to find some money for a program to start as soon as possible. Is that possible? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 176-15(5): Incentive Programs To Address Housing Utility Costs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that’s possible. We’re well into our business planning. This would require new money, as Members know, but if there was a consensus here, or a majority of people agreed, then certainly we would look at that. We’ve looked at it, but we also have to recognize our fiscal situation. It may have to be somewhat limited or modest, but we’re certainly not opposed to that kind of support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 176-15(5): Incentive Programs To Address Housing Utility Costs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like I said, we do dedicate a lot of dollars to the concept of energy conservation and I would like to ask the Premier then if he would support the reprofiling of some money that may already be identified in the budget that could be reprofiled for something more tangible, something more real to northerners that we could get this program set up as soon as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 176-15(5): Incentive Programs To Address Housing Utility Costs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly we would and we would look for advice from the Members as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.