Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The past 48 hours has been host to a power struggle, a fight, not based on improving electricity rates or lowering our cost of living but a war of ego and ministerial legacy building.
I want to take this opportunity to speak about not what I believe is a legitimate RFP process in Hay River, but an ad that appeared in this week’s newspaper suggesting this government’s intention is to expropriate Northland Utilities, a successful, northern, private company, 60 years’ history, 50 percent owned by 27 Dene First Nations, and sure enough, today this Cabinet responded accordingly with an RFP bid in Hay River to do just that.
Undoubtedly, this ad comes in response to comments made by Minister Miltenberger at the 2014 Energy Charrette and some MLAs during the last Legislative Assembly sitting here, where it was claimed, with zero evidence, that eliminating Northland Utilities and the Public Utilities Board would reduce electricity costs.
Contrary to the personal views of our Finance Minister, which we seem to hear a lot of lately, Northland Utilities is not the middleman nor is it the bogeyman in our electric industry.
Furthermore, removing the Public Utilities Board, as hinted by our Finance Minister, would eliminate not only the independent oversight of all our GNWT tax subsidies to NTPC, it would eliminate all ratepayer protection and there would be no process to truly validate electricity rate structures across the North.
In essence, the people want to know, what is Cabinet’s intent behind the Miltenberger iron curtain? What is this new energy policy we keep hearing about in the McLeod government? Why is this same consulting group, which is on NTPC payroll, working so closely with this Cabinet? What secret deals are happening right now that will significantly cost the ratepayers and the taxpayers of the NWT? Furthermore, what cuts will there be to the critical capital infrastructure, programs and services when this government dips into your money to expropriate a privately owned First Nation company?
Contrary to what we’ve been led to believe by this Cabinet, the taxpayer does not have the deep pockets to invest in energy infrastructure we require, nor do we have the brain trust in solving our energy concerns, and this is a given. But no, Mr. Speaker, instead we should be getting out of the way, like we’re seeing in places like in Ontario with Hydro One, but this McLeod government is keen on taking our hard-earned tax money with their newly minted American Express card and are willing to put First Nations last. But the clear message to industry: We’re closed for business.
Worried, Mr. Speaker? Everybody in this room should be. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
