Thank you. Once again I’m rising to continue the conversation regarding power costs here in the Northwest Territories. Without having to go through it at great length, we all know how this affects the everyday family and certainly the everyday business that’s trying to get by.
My question for the NWT Power Corporation Minister is that we all understand that restructuring could happen and that could take out some of the inefficiencies within the system.
Can the NWT Power Corp Minister explain what work is being done to analyze the inefficiencies in the system, and where does he see us moving forward in a positive direction so we can create a better system that works better for Northerners and hopefully drive costs for power down and makes it affordable for the everyday family? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was at the Energy Charrette where the reference that my colleague from Yellowknife Centre made in terms of the most complicated 65 megawatts the guest speaker had ever seen and I think it’s indicative of one of the challenges. We have two challenges. It’s to bring down the cost of generation and then there’s the cost of distribution and transmission. On the generation side we know that we have to get off diesel, and we’re investing and will continue to invest in things like LNG investment in Inuvik. We’re doing some groundbreaking work in Colville Lake with batteries, solar and diesel to have a maximum amount of solar penetration. We’ve put in some significant solar, as well, into Simpson.
Depending on the outcome of our borrowing limit, we intend and know we have to invest more money. We know that Yellowknife needs additional generation. We know that Yellowknife has existing diesel plants that are soon going to be reaching the end of their life. So we’re going to have to look at bringing in a cheaper form, a more inexpensive form of energy to run those power requirements.
At the same time, we know, from a structural point of view, how we set ourselves up with our various rate zones is a driver how our Territorial Power Support Program is applied for and where it’s used. How we are set up as a distribution system, as well, has to be looked at. So there are a number of issues, and we’ve committed, as a government, to make cost of living a priority. So, on the energy side, those are the areas we’ve got to look at. Thank you.
It’s my understanding that the Brighter Futures provided a bit of a promising direction if not a path for the NWT to take. Where does the NWT Power Corporation see the opportunity here to create a better system that works for folks and working to help see collective work come together to help drive down the price of power, make our system more reliable and certainly make a structure that makes sense for all Northerners? Thank you.
As we discussed in this House previously, one of the areas that we are carefully considering as a government is the request from the Town of Hay River in regard to their franchise agreement to see if we would consider putting a bid in on that. That would have a direct impact on potential structure, distribution structure. We’ve already committed publicly that once our borrowing limit is set, we would be prepared to invest money, significant money into the generation side once again here in Yellowknife.
For example, in Inuvik you could put in, an example would be some of that wind power that’s there, and you could cut the diesel production in Inuvik and Tuk in half by doing that kind of investment that would provide alternative energy on an ongoing basis while we wait for the eventual day when gas is going to be produced and available in Inuvik. Thank you.
The everyday person doesn’t really care about government policy until it affects them. Frankly, that’s probably the truth.
What energy policy do we need to do and work on, and what can we do today to ensure that we start delivering an energy policy that is delivering results to the everyday Northerner who is trying to get by? Thank you.
Thank you. As we move forward, we have a lot of the tools already. Depending on how we evolve in terms of distribution and generation, we have to look at things as I raised previously, the role and relationship of the Power Corporation. Right now it’s a stand-alone power corporation with a board. Given our close working relationship and financial investment, is that the best structure, could it be structured more efficiently and effectively any other way? We have to look at the distribution, and the Cabinet is going to be looking at the request from Hay River and responding to that in the not-too-distant future. We also need to look at, as we do that, as we evolve and if the system changes, we have to look at are we properly structured in terms of the Public Utilities Board structure as well.
So it’s not only the generation of energy, it’s going to be how we’re structured to deliver regulated. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For my final supplementary, of course, when can we actually see something on the ground to see the emergence of new policy that will break ground on how we deliver power in the Northwest Territories? I’ll add that citizens themselves can’t wait much longer and we need a government that responds, that’s light on its feet to be delivering real results for the cost of living problem to Northerners. Thank you.
We have a number of documents that are currently available in terms of the energy planning. The Power System Plan for the Power Corporation and, as well, the final formal response to the Energy Charrette, which was in fact the most recent way that people could get involved, citizens could get involved in providing feedback and advice, to which they did in a very quality way that we’re going to look at responding to.
A lot of what we’re going to do is then going to be predicated on the final outcome of our borrowing limit, which will dictate how much we’re prepared to invest in the critical area of cost of living. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to go to item 7, oral questions, on the Order Paper. Mahsi.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you graciously, colleagues. I spoke to the Premier in his role as the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs on Monday, but I’d like to ask Mr. Premier about the GNWT and the negotiating table for the Dehcho First Nations. I know that they haven’t actually been negotiating since January.
How does the GNWT intend to respond to the Dehcho First Nations for their request for mediation to resolve the current impasse to get negotiations back on track? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member’s questioning on behalf of the Dehcho First Nations brings to mind the old fable of the boy who cried wolf. The Government of the Northwest Territories has never left the table. We’ve never said we would not negotiate. We are prepared to negotiate. The Dehcho First Nations has gone through great contortions to show otherwise. Their legal counsel has written to us and said they absolutely reject our latest offer. Their legal counsel has written to us and threatened to take us to court, and we’re prepared to negotiate and always have been. Thank you.
Thank you very much. I’d like to thank the Premier for that answer, but that’s not the position that the Dehcho First Nations has seen or had seen.
I’d just like to ask the Premier once again – I think on Monday I noted his great negotiation ability – does the Premier see a way to get back to the negotiating table? I know, like any negotiator, Mr. Premier of course doesn’t want to negotiate in the media, but he must have a way in order to continue the talks. Thank you very much.
Thank you. The Dehcho First Nations has written to the Government of Canada, asking for a bilateral process with the Government of Canada despite the fact that our government has increased the Government of Canada’s land quantum offer of 2007 from 33,448 square kilometres to 37,500 kilometres. Despite that, it appears the Dehcho First Nations would prefer a bilateral process with the Government of Canada. Despite that, we are prepared to negotiate at the main table. The Dehcho First Nations chief negotiator wrote to our chief negotiator, asking for a main table meeting and then turned around and cancelled the meeting. So we are prepared to follow the agreement-in-principle that does provide for facilitation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I’m glad that Mr. Premier mentioned the whole area about facilitation and mediation. That’s getting back to the first question.
Does the Premier see a role for mediation when it comes to a perceived impasse as it were? Mr. Premier and Aboriginal Affairs doesn’t see it as stalled talks, so despite that, is it their way to get mediation happening, look at both sides’ positions and come to some resolution and try to continue to move forward with the talks? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That’s why the main table is there. We have the Government of Canada, the Dehcho First Nation, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and as I said, the agreement-in-principle does allow for facilitation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I guess he’s calling it facilitation. Apparently there’s a process laid out. I guess the Dehcho is willing to go down the facilitation road or mediation road.
How does this process kick in, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.
I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, the next step would be for the Dehcho First Nations to attend the main table meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too wanted to ask questions in terms of the Dehcho First Nations and GNWT negotiations. I just wanted to clarify with the Premier whether indeed the negotiations and talks have been suspended or boycotted by the GNWT. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
I won’t repeat my comments about the boy who cried wolf. We’ve never left the table. We have never threatened not to negotiate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Through his role as the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, what other considerations would the department consider to maybe exhaust all options to try to move the negotiations forward, if there is still a willingness on the part of the GNWT to move negotiations forward? Mahsi.
As far as we’re concerned, nothing has changed. We are prepared to negotiate. The DCFN legal counsel has rejected out of hand our latest offer. He’s threatened to take us to court. He won’t say on what basis. We have always said we have never left the table. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Maybe I could ask the Premier, is there a message that you would like to impart to the Dehcho First Nations to try to get negotiations back on track? Mahsi.
There is a main table involving the Government of Canada, the Dehcho First Nations and the Government of the Northwest Territories, so I would suggest they get together, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know how essential services such as foster families provide the Northwest Territories. They are obviously critical to the care of those most vulnerable at certain times. It’s my understanding that only two territories and two provinces don’t offer support through insurance programs and legal support.
I wonder what the Minister of Health and Social Services can do to ensure foster families are protected and provided the right services so when they do step up to the plate to help this government deliver those essential services when necessary that they are supported as well.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister of Health, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We work closely with the Foster Family Coalition. If that issue is brought to us by committee or by them, we will certainly look at it, Mr. Speaker.
So, a Member bringing it to the attention of the Minister means nothing? Thank you.
Of course not, but I’m seeing something come from committee with the full support of committee on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
So, when a Member of the Legislative Assembly stands up and cites a particular issue and tries to draw it to the attention of the Minister, is it because it’s this Member or is it because one Member is bringing an issue forward on behalf of an association it doesn’t matter? Is that the attitude we’re getting from this government that we have to have the whole Assembly agree that something matters? Thank you.
I appreciate the words the Member is putting in my mouth. The bottom line is obviously it will carry more weight if it comes from one of the standing committees, in this case the Standing Committee on Social Programs. I do hear the Member. I will look at it, but I would appreciate hearing something from the Standing Committee on Social Programs as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I feel terrible I had to waste three questions to ask for something to be looked at. If the Members would so oblige me… Or I should say not me; the heck with me. On behalf of the foster families, if you would also look upon the issue of the fact that since 1996 a per diem rate of $24 a day has not changed.
So, in 19 years, $24 a day for the children under their care has remained stagnant and it’s been a challenge. So don’t look at it for me. Would you be willing to look at this issue on behalf of the foster families? Thank you.
Of course this is something that has come up in our discussions around child and family services from standing committee as well as the public and is something we are already working on. I would be happy to share that information with the Member once we have concluded our review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Transportation. I want to ask the Minister of Transportation questions on the Inuvik-Tuk highway.
Are we on schedule, on budget and on time to complete the highway as said in the House in previous years?
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Beaulieu.
